DUNMORE — As snow flurries fell Monday afternoon, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials provided insight on winter weather preparedness and tips for driving safely during storms.
Standing in front of mounds of rock salt, Lonell Tomaine, assistant district executive of the maintenance division for PennDOT’s District 4, stressed the department is well prepared for the winter season. Tomaine oversees winter service operations for the district’s six counties: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Susquehanna, Pike and Wayne.
“We have all our equipment up and running, we have personnel to operate our routes, and we have material stocked — salt, anti-skid and brine solution,” she said.
PennDOT District 4 typically uses about 100,000 tons of salt, 60,000 tons of anti-skid material, and more than 1.3 million gallons of salt brine each winter, officials said
“We started preparing for this winter season from the end of the last winter season,” she said. “We’re typically ready for winter months ahead.”
Tomaine added training remains a critical component to ensure operations run smoothly during hectic situations.
“Ahead of the winter season, our operators do dry runs,” she said. “They drive their routes to make sure they’re aware of what they will be maintaining and making sure there’s no obstacles in their way.”
PennDOT still seeks to hire additional operators, mechanics and welders for the winter season, Tomaine said. Those interested may apply at employment.pa.gov, she said.
From preliminary conversations with officials from the National Weather Service and AccuWeather, Tomaine believes the winter weather ahead may mirror last year.
“We’re looking at probably the same type of winter season as last year, kind of more mixed events, but time will tell,” she said. “We’re ready for whatever comes at us.”
Elizabeth Fabri, the safety press officer for PennDOT District 4, urges drivers to travel cautiously when road conditions deteriorate.
“The biggest thing for our drivers, and for drivers on the road, is to slow down and be cautious of weather changes,” she said. “As the temperatures drop, there are unexpected events like snow squalls that can impair your vision. And if our truck drivers are on the roads, we want to make sure you’re not trying to pass them and are giving them enough space. They’re trying to clear the roads so you can get there safely without any incidents or accidents.”
Fabri added 511pa.com serves as a useful resource for checking road conditions and plow schedules during the winter months.
“Drivers can actually see the plow trucks in action and where they are in their routes,” she said. “We encourage everybody to use it because it’s going to show you the safest route. If you see a lot of accidents in one area, you should most likely avoid that area. It can take several hours, from start to finish, depending on where the plow trucks are starting, so you want to give them enough time.”
Tomaine noted the brine offers a more cost-effective solution to rock salt.
“Right now, the salt is about $90 a ton for our district and we make our own brine solution for about 25 cents per gallon,” she said. “We mix the material because salt is so expensive. We don’t need 100% salt in the trucks to provide the level of service that our customers deserve. The policy for PennDOT is to provide safe and passable roadways.”
Joe Worobey, a transportation equipment operator for PennDOT, stressed the brine plays a big role in keeping roads safe.
“As soon as the snow hits it, it starts working and it stays a while,” he said.
A heavy machine operator moves rock salt at the PennDOT District 4 Engineering Stockpile in Dunmore on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The PennDOT District 4 Engineering Stockpile in Dunmore on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
PennDOT operators work near brine silos at the PennDOT District 4 Engineering Stockpile in Dunmore on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The hood ornament on one of the brine trucks at PennDOT District 4 Engineering Stockpile in Dunmore on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Assistant District Executive Director of Maintenance for PennDOT Division 4 Lonell Tomaine responds to questions from the press PennDOT District 4 Engineering Stockpile in Dunmore on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Rock salt in a shed at PennDOT District 4 Engineering Stockpile in Dunmore on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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A heavy machine operator moves rock salt at the PennDOT District 4 Engineering Stockpile in Dunmore on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)