Innovation makes the world go around.
One of those innovations will be put to good use this winter as the Department of Transportation and Works added a new tow plow to its arsenal of snow removal equipment.
The plow, the first of its kind for Newfoundland and Labrador, will be a part of the province’s tow plow pilot project that will examine the safety and effectiveness of using tow plows on provincial highways.
“Snow plows on highways with multiple lanes often clear one lane at a time or work in tandem with another plow so both lanes can be cleared together,” Minister of Transportation and Works Steve Crocker said in a news release Tuesday.
“The addition of the tow plow will enable crews to clear snow more effectively on our highways and make them safer for residents,” he added
The tow plow is pulled behind a traditional snowplow with the rear blade allowing for snow to be cleared from both lanes at the same time.
It will be used to clear snow from the Trans Canada Highway between Route 2 and Salmonier Line.
Motorists are advised to use additional caution when travelling behind the plow that will have signs alerting motorists when the rear blade will move to the right or back behind the truck.
Following the winter season, the department will review its winter snow clearing operations to determine if more tow plows will be considered in the future.
A review of the pilot program will be done following the completion of the winter system to obtain data on how it worked and what the use of it will be in the future.
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador currently uses more than 300 snowplowing apparatus to keep the highways clear.
