PARSONS – The weather predictions include snow, cold and ice for this winter season – and those who live or travel through this county during the winter can be thankful for a well-prepared and well-stocked Department of Highways crew to help assure their safety.
Snow plow in Tucker County
Barry Gardner, Highway Administrator for Tucker County, said Tucker County has lots of tractor and trailer traffic, and keeping them moving in the winter weather is a big concern.
“If the tractor and trailers don’t move, everything else comes to a halt,” Gardner said. “Whenever they hang us, it hangs everyone else up until they get moving.”
Gardner said sometimes the skiers and tourists traveling through the county have never encountered snow before.
“It’s a little different, and can be a challenge,” Gardner said. “Each way in and out of Thomas and Davis has mountains – Scherr toward D.C., and mountains going toward Parsons or Elkins.”
Gardner said his personnel and equipment are ready for the winter, and they completed their dry run the second week of October. Gardner said they have been using salt brine to prepare the roads before it snows.
“We have been spraying all the main highways with brine before it snows,” he said. “It takes about 10,000 gallons of salt brine to cover all of the main roads in Tucker County before each storm. It is pretty reasonable, costing about $1,000 to spray the roads before each predicted storm. We started doing that late last year.”
Gardner said the salt brine is something they make themselves over on Corridor H in Elkins.
“We go get the brine and haul it to our facilities,” Gardner said. “We have a truck that sprays the brine on the roads. It takes approximately 40 gallons per lane mile. The brine contains Elkins City water mixed with salt. We use a 23 percent concentration of salt.
“The brine keeps the salt from bonding and freezing to the road service,” Gardner said. “It keeps it working and it does a real good job. “
Gardner said his office has about 30 people who drive the trucks, three mechanics and two office personnel. He said there are about 11 plow trucks to tackle the winter weather.
He said the driving public can help his folks by slowing down when the road surfaces become slick.
“Slow down and keep back at least 100 feet from our trucks,” Gardner said. “These guys are out here doing the best they can to keep everyone safe. They can’t be everywhere at the same time – they tackle the main roadways first then we treat the secondary roads. We get there the quickest they can.”
Gardner said folks traveling during winter conditions should carry blankets and flashlights in case they get into trouble.
“All of the fire departments in Tucker County are a blessing to the state road workers,” Gardner said. “They help out where they can so we can continue to do our job. They really need to be thanked for all they do to help.”
Gardner said drivers traveling in Tucker County can call the DOH District office at 304-637-0220 or online at wv511.org.
