[KOH] Winter is a’comin’, as evidenced by the chain controls on Mt Rose Hwy. NDOT is getting ready by preparing more than 80 plows across northwestern Nevada. They’re also stockpiling salt and sand. The sand is combined with salt and wetted with brine to create more dense sand that keeps roads ice-free at lower temperatures and doesn’t bounce off the road as easily.

NDOT also keeps an eye on the weather, using professional local forecasts, and more than 50 of their own meteorological stations on Nevada highways that provide detailed weather data including pavement temps. Statewide, nearly 4,000 crashes occurred in bad weather between Oct. 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023, including 22 fatals.

The department is vastly understaffed, with 30% of jobs currently unfilled. They’re hiring temporary winter highway maintenance workers. Keep up-to-date on road conditions, traffic incidents, and live camera views at nvroads.com, or by dialing 5-1-1.