The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is conducting maintenance on approximately 200 weather stations located on highways and remote seasonal roads to ensure they are ready for summer storms and winter weather.
These biannual checkups keep the stations in working order. The stations provide real-time data on road temperature, visibility, wind speed and precipitation. This information helps UDOT crews plan pre- and post-storm operations and is shared with the public via variable message signs, the UDOT Traffic website and app and even through vehicle-to-everything technology.
“The information our weather stations provide us is crucial in helping us make the best decisions for snow mitigation and everyone traveling on Utah’s roads,” said Cody Oppermann, UDOT weather operations specialist, in a statement.
The program is also cost-effective. For every dollar spent on labor and materials, the weather system saves the state $11—amounting to more than $2.2 million annually.
Maintenance crews prioritize stations on seasonal roads, where harsh winters often damage equipment. Technicians also consider crash data and weather patterns when evaluating where new stations are needed, especially in high-elevation areas or places prone to ice or wind.
“Utah has a varying climate and we try to make sure we’re capturing all the different nuances of it,” Oppermann said.
Source: Utah Department of Transportation, Hoodline.com
