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UDOT demonstration details snowplow blade replacement, weights and safety on SR 210
Summary
Two presenters described replacing a snowplow blade at Little Cottonwood Canyon (SR 210), saying blades total about 4,000 pounds and are rebuilt in 4-foot, ~200-pound sections; safety supports are used to guard against hydraulic failure.
Two presenters described replacing a snowplow blade at Little Cottonwood Canyon on State Route 210 and explained how crews rebuild and rotate blade sections to extend service life.
The demonstration matters because plow blades and routine maintenance affect how quickly crews can clear roads after storms and how safely those workers operate. The presenters gave specific measurements and described safety steps used during blade changes.
Speaker 1 said, "The blade's about 4,000 pounds," and explained that crews rebuild plow blades by removing bolts and replacing 4-foot sections. "These plow blades weigh about 200 pounds per 4 foot section, which we take these bolts out and we rebuild these sections and put new sections into here," Speaker 1 said, adding that crews rotate sections between plows "to get more life out of the plow blades." Speaker 1 also described a style called a "razor," noting it has "a little bit thicker patch on it on the bottom, and this one wears a lot better on concrete."
Speaker 2 described a safety practice used during the change: "Gonna support this blade up so we can get under it and change the blade. And this will just support it if the hydraulics bleed off. Safety first." The presenters noted that whether a full blade needs replacement "just depends" on pavement type, saying it "depends on concrete and asphalt."
The pair also pointed to other UDOT equipment and teams. Speaker 2 referenced sweepers and blowers on site and said they had spent time with the RWIS (Road Weather Information System) team: "I was out with the RWIS team a couple weeks ago." Speaker 2 invited people who are interested in UDOT operations to suggest other hands-on topics: "If you know anything about UDOT that you wanna know a little bit more about, maybe you wanna throw Grant and me in the mix and say, hey. You do it."
The segment included informal remarks about on-the-job tasks (handling heavy washers with gloves, using drills and big bars) and closed with the presenters saying they planned to continue helping out where they can. "Grant and I wanna continue getting our hands dirty, help out when we can," Speaker 2 said.
No formal decisions, votes, statutes, or budget figures were discussed in the recorded segment.
