PennDOT will deploy new snow plows in Montgomery County

Penn DOT has new snow plowing-equipment it says can make its road clearing efforts more efficient this winter, which begins Thursday.

Montgomery County motorists may catch sight of the new model called a tow plow. It’s a 24-foot road-clearing marvel, brought to you by PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The plows can clear two lanes of traffic at once, freeing up other plows and salt truck drivers to tackle smaller roads.

But, the machine also increases the likelihood that drivers could get stuck behind a two-lane plow. That’s something PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch is warning about.

He says his agency recorded almost 40 crashes last year in which a vehicle hit a state snow plow.

“Now clearly, that’s an issue where people are getting a little too aggressive in winter conditions. If you think about it, if you’re behind a plow, where are the best conditions? After the plow has gone through,” he said. “Stay behind it. And give us a little bit of room. We’re out there to clear the roads for your safety.”

This isn’t the first time the tow-plows will hit the roads.

Last winter, they were used in Allegheny, Berks, and Lackawanna counties.

This year, they’re expected to clear roads in Perry, Cambria, and Schuylkill counties, as well as Montgomery.