Utah Expands Smart Signal Technology to Give Snowplows the Green Light During Storms
Key Takeaways
-
UDOT will equip 259 snowplows and 1,275 intersections with vehicle to everything, or V2X, technology on key winter routes.
-
The system allows plows to communicate with traffic signals, reducing stops and helping crews clear roads faster during major storms.
-
Once complete, the upgrade will support snow removal operations serving more than 90 percent of Utah’s population across 16,000 lane miles statewide.
When winter weather rolls in along Utah’s Wasatch Front, snowplows are the backbone of keeping roads open and drivers safe.
But now, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is giving its winter fleet a high-tech boost that could make a real difference in how quickly roads get cleared.
UDOT recently announced it will equip 259 snowplows and 1,275 intersections with a technology called vehicle to everything, or V2X, on key winter routes.
As the agency puts it, this system effectively gives plows a “green light” through intersections during storms, keeping them moving when every minute counts.
“In a major storm, every second matters,” said UDOT Transportation Technology Engineer Blaine Leonard in a news release. He described the upgrade as “a digital seatbelt,” an unseen layer of protection that helps plow drivers clear roads faster by reducing delays at lights.
Snowplow driver Codie Alsop says the change is noticeable from behind the wheel:
“We spend less time stopped at lights and more time actually clearing snow. During a storm, that matters.”
The technology UDOT is installing isn’t brand new, but it’s being applied more broadly than before. In 2025, the agency began equipping more plows with V2X units that can “preempt” traffic signals by changing them from red to green as a plow approaches, and this latest expansion nearly doubles the reach.
What Is V2X And Why Does It Help?
At its core, V2X technology allows vehicles to communicate with other vehicles, infrastructure like traffic lights, and even pedestrians or cyclists through wireless signals. It is part of a broader shift toward connected transportation systems that can share real time information for safety and efficiency.
Here’s a simplified way to think about it:
-
Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I): Cars or snowplows talk to traffic lights, road signs, or roadside units.
-
Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V): Vehicles share data with one another, like speed and location.
-
Vehicle to Everything (V2X): An umbrella term covering all of these paths of communication.
In practice, this means a V2X equipped snowplow approaching a signalized intersection can send a request to extend a green light or activate it sooner, reducing the need to slow down or stop, KPCW reported.
As a result, plows spend more time clearing streets and less time idling at red lights.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, connected technologies like V2X also improve overall road safety by providing vehicles with “situational awareness” they can’t get from sensors alone, potentially reducing crashes and exposure to dangerous conditions.
Why It Matters in Winter
Utah sees its fair share of snowstorms, and keeping roads open, especially on major corridors and freight routes, is a priority for UDOT. The department maintains more than 16,000 lane miles statewide and deploys hundreds of plows in a typical season, according to the agency.
By expanding V2X technology to cover snow removal operations serving more than 90% of Utah’s population, UDOT hopes to make plowing both quicker and safer.
In addition to helping snowplows, experts say V2X in general can reduce traffic congestion and improve travel times by optimizing signal timing and sharing real time roadway information, goals that benefit all drivers, not just plow crews.
Looking Ahead
This isn’t just a Utah idea. Connected vehicle technologies like V2X are being explored and deployed in cities and states across the country. Federal research suggests that when vehicles and infrastructure can “talk” to one another, it not only speeds travel but can reduce severe crashes and improve overall mobility.
For Utahns who depend on clear roads throughout winter, the added technology won’t be visible from the driver’s seat, but it could shave valuable minutes off plow response times and help maintain safer roads when storms hit.
About the Author
Karina Mazhukhina, Digital Content Specialist
Digital Content Specialist
Karina Mazhukhina has extensive experience in journalism, content marketing, SEO, editorial strategy, and multimedia production. She was previously a real-time national reporter for McClatchy News and a digital journalist for KOMO News, and ABC-TV affiliate in Seattle.