For Immediate Release:  Monday, February 12, 2018

Contact: Kristi Sandal, Public Information Officer, 605.773.3265

FLANDREAU, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation is relocating the tow plow currently based in Junction City/Yankton to Flandreau to get more operators trained on its use during winter snow events.

This tow plow will be used during the next few snow events to clear snow and ice on Interstate 29 between the Madison and Dell Rapids exits.   

A tow-plow is pulled by a snowplow truck and, along with the front plow on the truck, can clear widths up to 25 feet by allowing the operator to remove snow from one lane and the shoulder in one pass. 

“The tow plow has been proven to save wear and tear on equipment, and save on fuel and labor costs. It also allows crews to get the roadway cleared more quickly and efficiently,” says Mitchell region engineer Craig Smith. 

When the driver deploys the bi-directional tow plow, the wheels turn as much as 30 degrees in either direction, which causes the tow-plow to steer to the right or left of the truck. The tow plow works similarly to a wing plow but with a much greater reach to clear more surface area. 

The department’s tow plows will have different set-ups for material that can be used to more effectively treat road surfaces. The two different set-ups the SDDOT will be using can apply a direct liquid spray or a pre-wetting salt application. 

To see the tow-plow in action and get more information from an interview with the Sioux Falls tow-plow driver, visit the SDDOT YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/SouthDakotaDOT. 

For complete road construction information, visit www.safetravelusa.com/sd or dial 511.

- 30 -