Chief
04-17-2008, 02:10 PM
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/337433.html
HUNTER T. GEORGE; The News Tribune
Published: April 17th, 2008 01:00 AM | Updated: April 17th, 2008 06:21 AM
The state Department of Transportation said Wednesday that it has spent at least $8 million more than it budgeted for the winter to de-ice highways and clear snow from mountain passes.
Why?
Snoqualmie Pass, for example, recorded 539 inches of snow through Sunday. That’s 158 percent of the five-year average, according to the DOT.
Here’s a by-the-numbers look at what it’s taken for the DOT to keep highways open and safe.
De-icer (through March)
Planned: 55,000 tons
Actual: 85,000 tons
Difference: 30,000 tons
Extra cost: $4.5 million (at $150 per ton)
Labor (through March)
Planned: $4.5 million
Actual: $8.3 million
Difference: $3.8 million ($2.2 million in regular pay and $1.6 million in overtime)
Avalanche control (as of April 3)
Snoqualmie Pass: 199 detonations, using 8,121 pounds of explosives and nearly 100 rounds from a 105 mm recoilless rifle.
Stevens Pass: 180 detonations, using 4,300 pounds of explosives and 40 rounds from the rifle.
Future Budget
Last month, the Legislature boosted funding by about $5.25 million, mostly to cover the costs of handling the extraordinary winter. DOT officials anticipate carrying a $3 million deficit into next winter, but some of that could be offset by a mild winter. If conditions next winter are average or worse than average, the department might ask for extra money to cover snow operations.
It ain’t over yet
Forecasts call for more snow in the mountains this weekend.
More information
www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/snoqualmie
No wonder we haven't heard from the Goreacle very much lately...
;)
HUNTER T. GEORGE; The News Tribune
Published: April 17th, 2008 01:00 AM | Updated: April 17th, 2008 06:21 AM
The state Department of Transportation said Wednesday that it has spent at least $8 million more than it budgeted for the winter to de-ice highways and clear snow from mountain passes.
Why?
Snoqualmie Pass, for example, recorded 539 inches of snow through Sunday. That’s 158 percent of the five-year average, according to the DOT.
Here’s a by-the-numbers look at what it’s taken for the DOT to keep highways open and safe.
De-icer (through March)
Planned: 55,000 tons
Actual: 85,000 tons
Difference: 30,000 tons
Extra cost: $4.5 million (at $150 per ton)
Labor (through March)
Planned: $4.5 million
Actual: $8.3 million
Difference: $3.8 million ($2.2 million in regular pay and $1.6 million in overtime)
Avalanche control (as of April 3)
Snoqualmie Pass: 199 detonations, using 8,121 pounds of explosives and nearly 100 rounds from a 105 mm recoilless rifle.
Stevens Pass: 180 detonations, using 4,300 pounds of explosives and 40 rounds from the rifle.
Future Budget
Last month, the Legislature boosted funding by about $5.25 million, mostly to cover the costs of handling the extraordinary winter. DOT officials anticipate carrying a $3 million deficit into next winter, but some of that could be offset by a mild winter. If conditions next winter are average or worse than average, the department might ask for extra money to cover snow operations.
It ain’t over yet
Forecasts call for more snow in the mountains this weekend.
More information
www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/snoqualmie
No wonder we haven't heard from the Goreacle very much lately...
;)