PennDOT Battles Massive Snowbanks Lining Pittsburgh-Area Highways

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As large snowbanks continue to line highways throughout the Pittsburgh area, PennDOT says it's doing what it can to push the snow out of driving lanes, but lacks the capacity to fully remove the snow that has accumulated from a recent major winter storm. PennDOT District 11 Assistant District Executive for Maintenance Lori Musto says crews are constantly monitoring the snow and ice buildup and pushing it back as far as possible, but notes it would take weeks to dig out all 6,000 miles of snow-covered roads in the district.

Why it matters

The snowbanks lining Pittsburgh-area highways pose a safety risk, as the packed snow and ice can cause damage to vehicles. PennDOT is limited in its ability to fully clear the roads, so the agency is urging drivers to slow down and eliminate distractions when navigating the tight, snow-covered areas.

The details

PennDOT crews are constantly pushing back the snowbanks as far as they can, but Musto says the snow has become extremely hard and there's nowhere left to push it. The agency doesn't have the capacity to go in and physically dig out and remove all the snow, as that would take weeks just for the 6-mile HOV lane, let alone the nearly 6,000 miles of roads in the district. So PennDOT is left watching and pushing back the snow when needed, with the goal of keeping the roads free and clear past the edge lines.

• Last weekend, the Pittsburgh area received upwards of 10 inches of snow from a major winter storm system.

What they’re saying

What’s next

PennDOT says it will continue to monitor the snowbanks and push the snow back as far as possible, but notes that fully removing the snow would take weeks due to the sheer volume across the district's roads.