News: Is ODOT "Smart Salt" program really smart?

By Channel 3 Reporter Mike O'Mara

CLEVELAND -- Veteran salt truck driver, Gary Casteel is getting ready for another day on the highway. With the forecast calling for the chance of freezing rain, Casteel is loading up another bed full of salt at the ODOT station off Old Grayton Road.



The sleet starts to fall around 1:30 p.m. across Northeast Ohio. The road surface quickly getting slippery. Rush hour traffic will be building in just a few hours. Inside Casteel's truck cab, a special digital displays signals that the pavement temperature has fallen below freezing.

"It's time to lay down the salt," says Casteel as he rolls out toward I-480. "With the new temperature sensors in our rigs, we can make that call if the bridges are freezing over."

Casteel and hundreds of his fellow ODOT drivers across Northeast Ohio are part of the new "Smart Salt" campaign by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

With the price of rock salt skyrocketing, ODOT is trying to use the less salt and spend less money while keeping the roads safe.

Last year, the State of Ohio spent $76.6 million dollars on ice and snow control. ODOT used 906,623 tons of salt statewide.

Jocelynn Clemings, ODOT spokeswoman, said, "We want to use the right amount at the right time depending on conditions.

"In addition to listening to our drivers and operations managers, we're also going to use our calibrators and different methods to make sure we're using the right amount where it's prudent."

In the last month, the City of Cleveland had to close down sections of I-90 on two occasions because of multiple accidents and dangerous conditions.



Valerie Conway recalls trying to get home on Christmas Eve when the westbound lanes of I-90 were closed because of icy conditions.

"On that night on a scale of 1 to 10," said Conway, "and 10 being the best, I would give ODOT around a zero."

Larry Parson said, "I would give ODOT's "Smart Salt" program a C-minus because of the lack of salt."

West side resident Jerry Ferrell said, "It might cost somebody's life and that ain't smart. ODOT should just spend the extra money."

"We get that criticism a lot," said ODOT's Clemings. "We're used to that criticism. But what we're doing now is being more effective with what we have. We never cut corners with safety."

In the meantime, ODOT drivers like Gary Casteel are still out on the roads trying to keep the highways passable. Whether the "Smart Salt" strategy works or fails, won't be due to his lack of effort.

News: ODOT reminds drivers to give snowplows plenty of room

To keep drivers safe, especially on the highways, ODOT is reminding drivers to "not crowd the plow."

ODOT says drivers should remember to give snowplow drivers plenty of room in which to do their work and not get to close on the highway. The blade on a snowplow can extend across a road's centerline and shoulder. To avoid vehicle damage drivers are advised not to tailgate or ride along side snowplows for any extended period of time.

ODOT offers the following tips to drivers for sharing the roads with snowplows and salt trucks.

• Don't Crowd the Plow: A snowplow driver's field of vision is restricted. You may seen them, but they don't always see you.


• Watch for Clouds of Snow: Snowplows can throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce visibility to zero in less time than you can react.


• Keep Lights and Windows Clear: Clear the snow from your vehicle's windows and lights, and drive with your lights on.