WYDOT Snowplow Operators Working Through Worker Shortage

WYDOT snowplow operators have not only had their hands full trying to clear the roadways this winter season, but also with trying to get enough snow plows on to the highways.

The more travelers there are on a certain highway usually means there’s a greater chance that plows will be on that highway.

This is determined by an ADT or an average daily traffic count.

Also certain types of highways will get more priority than others.

Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming gets maintained 24 hours a day, while I-90 in north-central and northeast Wyoming get about 20 hours a day.

Mark Gillett is the WYDOT Chief Engineer in Cheyenne.

He says when a certain area has more than what the local crews can handle, and/or an area doesn’t have enough snow plow operators, help will come from elsewhere.

“Right now, our limited resource is snowplow drivers, but we’re compensating for that by moving people to the storm. When half the state gets hit, the other half comes across the state and helps out.”

Normally snow plow operators out of Sheridan clear I-90 from the Montana state line, to the Sheridan-Johnson County border.

Crews from Buffalo usually take over from there and plow to the Johnson-Campbell County line, and a little more than half of the distance on I-25 from Buffalo to Kaycee.