• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Weather / DOT winter budget disappearing as storms continue

DOT winter budget disappearing as storms continue

December 24, 2007 By admin

It’s still early in the winter weather season, but it’s already been a costly one in Iowa. Aside from the power outages, Department of Transportation crews have put in some long hours battling snow and ice on roads.

DOT winter operations manager Dennis Burkheimer says he not sure yet how much his agency has spent, but knows it’s a lot. He says the typical annual budget for snow and ice operations in Iowa is around 34 million dollars. The DOT buys salt shipped in from Kansas and Louisiana, but it’s the cost of equipment repairs, manpower and overtime hours that Burkheimer is especially concerned about.

The Iowa DOT has around 1,200 operators, mechanics and supervisors that are involved in keeping the state’s roads clear in the winter. The DOT has already dumped more than 100-thousand tons of salt on Iowa roads to help remove ice. Burkheimer says the roads take quite a beating – which leads to costly pothole repairs in the fall.

"The freeze-thaw cycles do help contribute to potholes and expansion and contraction of the pavement surface – so those are issues we continue to keep an eye on," Burkheimer says, "but I guess our biggest concern is making sure the roads are safe as possible for the traveling public."

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Weather Tagged With: Department of Transportation, Transportation

Featured Stories

Governor signs child care expansion into law

Iowa seniors have until July 1 to apply for new property tax break

Smoke from distant fires creates colorful sunrise in Iowa

DOT’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to merge into State Patrol

Iowa’s governor approves liability limits for trucking industry

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa names Beth Goetz interim AD

Cyclone Trio Invited to USA Basketball U19 Training Camp

Cameron Young to compete at the John Deere Classic

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 5/29/23

Iowa AD Gary Barta announces retirement

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC