MassDOT Showcases Arsenal Of Snow-Removing Equipment

MILTON (CBS) -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is ready for winter, Secretary Stephanie Pollack told reporters on Thursday.

During a news conference, Pollack and Highway Administrator Thomas Tinlin showed off the department's arsenal of snow removing equipment in front of a line of DOT workers and a sign that read "Wintahz Coming."

The department has 4,000 pieces of equipment, including snow-melting machines that destroy 120 tons of snow and ice an hour.

"We have over 380,000 tons of salt," Tinlin says. "We have 750,000 gallons of liquid de-icer."

Pollack also thanked the "men and women who go without sleep, who work overtime, who wake up and come out in the storm."

Both Pollack and Tinlin cautioned that Massachusetts drivers should be prepared for bad weather as well. They suggested carrying a safety kit in your car, which includes an ice scraper, non-perishable food, and a blanket.

Tinlin says drivers can make the jobs of DOT workers easier as well.

"When you're shoveling out your vehicle at home, start with the tail pipe," he said. "Clear snow and ice from windows, lights, and the hood of your vehicle, and, most importantly, the roof of your vehicle."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports

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• Karen Twomey