Skip to main content

Towed snowplough keeps the highway clear

Pennsylvania has a new tool to keep its multi-lane highways moving this winter - a 9.14m long, tow behind snowplough. The state's transport department (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) say the tow plough will allow one truck to do the work of two. Costing between US$99,000- 106,000 each, PennDOT plans to have at least one tow plough in each of its 11 engineering districts by winter 2012.
April 16, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Pennsylvania has a new tool to keep its multi-lane highways moving this winter - a 9.14m long, tow behind snowplough.
 
The state's transport department (4907 PennDOT) and the 4908 Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) say the tow plough will allow one truck to do the work of two.

Costing between US$99,000- 106,000 each, PennDOT plans to have at least one tow plough in each of its 11 engineering districts by winter 2012.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike expects to have four tow ploughs in service this winter.

Normally equipped with a 3.04m or 3.65m wide front plough, PennDOT trucks and some Turnpike trucks are equipped with a 'wing' plough attached to the side of the truck, increasing total ploughing width to about 4.8m-5.4m. A tow plough increases the ploughing width to 7.31m, allowing for two, 3.65m wide lanes to be cleared at once.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Pūhoi-to-Warkworth motorway project
    September 25, 2020
    After a hiatus because of the COVID-19 lockdown, work has restarted on what will be one of New Zealand’s most visually impressive motorways. Andrew Thackwray, senior manager for project delivery for Waka Kotahi, the New Zealand Transport Agency, explains
  • Auckland Harbour bridge celebrates 50 years
    April 5, 2012
    The bridge over Auckland Harbour celebrates its half century this year, and it has been given a major upgrade to ensure that safety is maintained in New Zealand's largest city. Mary Searle reports. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, home to nearly a third of the entire country's population. It's a sprawling metropolis, and its 1.3 million people are spread over 637km² of city, suburbs and islands. The Auckland Harbour Bridge, which celebrates its 50th birthday in May, is a vital link in the city's road
  • The MBT-1 from Mobile Barriers now protecting workers in the UK
    August 14, 2019
    Two giant US-made 21m-long mobile barriers are now keeping highway maintenance workers safe in England.
  • Asphalt paving developments
    March 13, 2012
    US and European asphalt paving needs are different, but some firms are bridging that gap, reports Mike Woof. With a clear differentiation between the US and European asphalt paving markets, manufacturers from the latter are now developing machines aimed at the former. The US and European markets for paving machines have developed along very different lines. North American pavers are designed for high throughputs and high paving rates, having been designed to meet a need to build roads over long distances wi