COLUMBUS, Ohio — In previous snowstorms, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the City of Columbus would call in extra plow drivers who also work desk jobs when the snow was at least four inches.
Not this time. Now they are being told there’s a good chance they’re going to be working behind a plow.
Ten to 15 auxiliary drivers per county that work for ODOT have been told to pause their normal day jobs and prepare to move snow.
Columbus has told their employees they may be called to work as well.
Adding to the challenge of plowing snow, ODOT says it’s still down about 15% of its drivers.
The snow is expected to start sometime after midnight and fall through morning rush hour adding to the challenges of keeping the streets clear.
“I call it a winter weather lasagna. It’s snow, ice, snow and ice. That’s a real heavy mixture for our crews to push off,” says Brooke Ebersole, a spokesperson for ODOT.
Based on the latest weather model, the snow is expected to be worse northwest of Interstates 70 and 71.
Columbus may not see as much snow, but it could be a mixture of snow and ice pellets.
“One part of the town may exceed that four-inch threshold and another part of the city might not, which is one of the curve balls or challenges that we are facing,” said Scott Tourville of Columbus Public Service Department.
Columbus says if the city gets four inches or more it will deploy its auxiliary drivers.
Columbus will plow non-residential streets first like Broad Street and High Street because they have the greatest traffic volumes.
ODOT is urging people who can work from home to stay home to make it easier for plow drivers to work.
You can track Columbus plows here.