‘The Salt Seeing Eye:’ the snowplow driver’s crystal ball

A hand points out the screens inside the cab of a snowplow, one of which shows the truck bed holding salt.

If we each had a crystal ball, just think of all the time, money, pain or heartache we could save!

While not exactly a crystal ball, Idaho Transportation Department plow operator Skylerr Valentine, with help from the Idaho Falls shed crew, has come up with an innovation that’s a little bit close. Well, for ITD operations folks in terms of work that is.

Valentine pondered on the fact that while plowing, he would need to make multiple stops through his route to climb up the truck bed and see how much salt was left. This of course involved pulling over, getting out of the cab and physically climbing on the heavy equipment. On newer dump/ plow trucks, a small ladder is fitted to the side of the bed. On older ones that still operate in force across the state, this salt check involves navigating from the stairs of the cab across to one of the rims of the truck bed. Valentine actually once fell while doing just that.

He figured that surely a camera could be installed to show down into the sander box that holds augers and salt. This would allow salt levels to be monitored visually just like wing plows are. He happened to be aware of a truck in east Idaho that was on the surplus sale line and talked to ITD Fleet Manager Dalton Rice about using the outdated wing plow camera from it to test out this innovative idea.

With the help of the entire Idaho Falls crew and ITD electricians Josh Harris and Justin Romrell, that older camera was mounted to the truck bed and wired around, then into the cab, with concern for easy disconnect points to retain dump truck functionality. The smaller screen of the unit was mounted inside, just underneath the tablet typically used by plow operators. Valentine dubbed it the “Salt Seeing Eye.”

“It was a lot of work, figuring it all out just right,” he said. “We really tried to make sure it was waterproof and could stand up to the elements. I wanted to see it put to the test this winter.”

Tablets equipped inside plow trucks show drivers video of where their wing is at, and relay salt and brine output numbers right on the screen. They don’t, however, indicate when salt in the truck bed is gone. Those numbers keep on ticking, and the operator keeps on driving, thinking he’s covering the road when in fact, he’s sure not.

Multiple times Valentine, and surely other operators anywhere, would stop to check salt levels in the bed, only to see that it’s empty and have no idea how long it had been. Then begins backtracking to determine where to pick back up with salt application, essentially doing the same thing over again and wasting time.

“I would make a 70-mile round trip, having run out but no idea where,” Valentine said. “I had no idea how long ago it had been or how many miles really had nothing on the road.”

There are formulas and historical knowledge that can help operators determine just how far so much salt will cover.  Let it be said that ITD operations folks could certainly be given science and math degrees for the calculations they’ve mastered when it comes to doing the work they do. They rely on the output readings on the tablet in each truck also. Where those reading don’t stop even if the salt is empty, calibrations aren’t without a significant margin of error though.

“This could really help us find discrepancies in our calibrations,” Idaho Falls Operations Foreman Jared Loosli said. “It has the potential to save a lot of money when it comes to salt ordering.”

This winter, Valentine has indeed had the chance to put the new tool to the test. While plowing the five-lane section of US-20 west of Idaho Falls, he’s determined from the safety of the cab that he can in fact make one more pass on his route, where he normally would have stopped to check or headed back to the shed to refill.

The “Salt Seeing Eye” may not be the crystal ball that can help any one of us avoid bad personal life decisions, unfortunately. But with substantial time saved while snowplows are out doing the vital work they do, increased safety for operators that would no longer have to climb on heavy equipment in slick winter conditions, and visible cost savings through more accurate salt use calculations, this innovation certainly has the potential to greatly benefit operations across Idaho.

Ideally, this camera could come standard on all new ITD trucks and be paired with the typical tablet, becoming one of the options right on the screen operators use now.

Construction & Materials Streamlines Support Through AI

Mike CopelandIn a move to bridge gaps, simplify processes, and improve efficiency, Mike Copeland from ITD’s Construction & Materials division has introduced an innovative AI chatbot to help employees navigate the complex web of manuals and resources. With approximately 17 years of field experience throughout his career, Mike knows firsthand how challenging it can be to find clear, quick answers in a sea of technical documents.

The chatbot, powered by advanced AI language models, is designed to make information access effortless. Instead of digging through lengthy manuals, employees can now type in a question, and the chatbot provides concise answers along with direct links to the original sources. This ensures accuracy while saving time—especially useful for repetitive questions that arise daily.

“With so much turnover and the constant evolution of processes, it’s easy to feel disconnected or overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information,” Mike explains. “This tool changes that. It’s like having a knowledgeable assistant who’s always ready to help.” Another exciting feature that’s in the works is making the chatbot multi-modal so that it can process images and videos.

Although the chatbot is live, its availability hasn’t reached every corner of ITD just yet. As more employees learn about this resource, the benefits will grow. By cutting down on repetitive tasks and freeing up time previously spent searching for answers, the Construction & Materials team as well as other teams throughout ITD, can focus more on critical projects and creative problem-solving.

Mike’s project is also a testament to ITD’s willingness to adapt and evolve with technology. “The pace of AI development is fast, but we’re doing everything we can to stay ahead. Tools like this help us work smarter, not harder,” Mike adds.

The chatbot represents more than just a tech tool—it’s a step toward empowering ITD employees with resources that make their work more efficient and enjoyable. As Mike and the team continue refining the AI, ITD is paving the way for a future where innovation and teamwork drive success.

ITD names 12 snowplows with help from students and employees

The Idaho Transportation Department has selected 12 winners from its first annual Name a Snowplow contest! The names will be featured on 12 plows across the state. The winners are:

North Idaho:

  • The Berminator, Post Falls Middle School
  • Big Snowplowski, Lakeland Middle School

North-Central Idaho

  • Alpha Storm One, employee’s child from Grangeville Elementary/Middle School
  • Plowabunga!, employee’s child from Lewiston High School

Southwest Idaho

  • Clearapathra, Hillside Junior High School
  • NoMoreMr.IceGuy, Fairmont Junior High School

South-Central Idaho

  • Plowasaurus Rex, employee’s child who is homeschooled
  • Darth Blader, employee’s child from Wendell Middle School

Southeast Idaho

  • Snow Daddy, Franklin Middle School
  • Snow Ranger, employee’s child from Blackfoot Middle School

East Idaho

  • Antisnowcial, Swan Valley School
  • POW POW KA PLOW, Rigby Middle School

Most of the names were submitted by eighth grade classrooms across the state. Because this was a new contest this year, a few areas needed extra help coming up with names. ITD asked employees and their children to get involved. The 12 winning names were selected by an anonymous vote by ITD employees.

Once the plow names are installed, ITD will coordinate educational visits with the winners to teach the students about snowplows and safe winter driving.

“On behalf of safety for our over 400 plow drivers in Idaho, thank you to all the students and teachers for getting involved! It really helps us spread the word about winter driving safety,” said ITD Chief Operations Officer and Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney. “Please look for those named plows and give them a wave and plenty of space to work if you see them out on highways helping our communities.”

Final $350M bond sale for major Idaho highway projects planned for early 2025

The Idaho Transportation Board unanimously passed a resolution today (Wednesday, Oct. 16) authorizing staff to proceed with the final bond sale for the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) bonding program at its monthly meeting in Boise.

The final bond sale will provide approximately $350 million to fully utilize $80 million in debt service from the TECM fund, which will be used on the following list of eligible construction projects:

  • I-90, SH-41 to US-95 between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene
  • SH-16, I-84/16 System Interchange, Franklin Interchange and SH-44 Interchange in Ada and Canyon Counties
  • SH-55, Farmway to Middleton Road west of Nampa
  • I-84, Burley and Heyburn Interchanges
  • I-15, Pocatello to Fort Hall
  • SH-75, McKercher to Broadway Run north of Hailey (depending on available funds)

The TECM fund was established by the Idaho Legislature as part of Governor Brad Little’s Leading Idaho initiative to make investments in critical state infrastructure. It is anticipated that the TECM direct-pay and funds from bond sales will yield up to $1.6 billion in road construction projects over the life of the program, of which bond proceeds are just over $1.3 billion.

The Idaho Transportation Department has issued three previous TECM bond series to accelerate construction projects and make critical transportation improvements that would otherwise take many years to finance. Some of the first projects are nearing completion and will reduce congestion, improve safety, and modernize aging roads and bridges in crucial corridors across Idaho.

This final bond sale of the current TECM authorization is anticipated to be sold in early 2025, in partnership with the Idaho House and Finance Association.

These TECM projects, along with strong partnerships with construction contractors, have enabled ITD to implement projects quickly, allowing citizens to benefit from the improvements resulting in significant time and money savings. The bonds have earned high ratings by the two major rating services, Fitch and Moody’s, and the funds have benefited from favorable interest rates.

“Idahoans can see the historic investment in transportation from the Legislature and Governor across the state as many significant and much-needed expansion and congestion mitigation projects are progressing toward completion,” Idaho Transportation Board Chairman Bill Moad said. “These projects will enhance safety and bring relief for those using the selected corridors.”

TECM construction projects currently underway that have been bond-funded include:

  • I-86/I-15 System Interchange in Pocatello/Chubbuck
  • I-90/SH-41 Interchange in Post Falls
  • US-20/26, I-84 to Middleton Road in Caldwell
  • US-20, South St. Anthony Interchange
  • I-84, Jerome to Twin Falls
  • SH-16, I-84 to US-20/26 in Ada and Canyon Counties
  • I-84, Burley and Heyburn Interchanges
  • I-84, Centennial Way to Franklin Road in Caldwell
  • SH-55, Farmway to Middleton Road west of Nampa

This program has advanced projects and provided statewide benefits to Idaho road users; however, there are still many more corridors that need to be addressed in the future.

Additional information on projects funded by Leading Idaho and TECM is available at www.itd.idaho.gov/funding.

ITD’s top innovations reflect commitment to safety & service

The FY24 Best of the Best ceremony held September 30 in Boise and livestreamed for the first time ever, showcased not only this year’s best innovations, but also paid tribute to the decade-long history of the innovation program at ITD, rolled out in the spring of 2014 to harness the great ideas of tremendous employees across the state. ITD innovation has resulted in $61M in savings and efficiencies to be re-applied to needed road and bridge projects statewide, and nearly 670,000 hours of savings over the last decade, benefiting road users and customers in the Gem State.

Innovation makes our work safer, improves processes, and saves time and money.  More than 1,500 of the 3,200 ideas over the last decade have been implemented. This not only saves time and money for the department, but also translate into significant improvements for our customers.

Innovate ITD! has created a space where every voice matters, every idea is valued, and everyone can make a difference,” said ITD Chief Innovation Officer Brenda Williams. “Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the Best of the Best. Every innovation represents hours of hard work, collaboration, and determination. I am so proud of all the ITD employees and their innovative spirit. Innovation….it is who we are.”

Along with the awards ceremony honoring this year’s winners, the ceremony gave a look back at some highlights along the way, like the Bud Bar in 2017, the evolution of the S.N.O.W. (Safely Navigating Our Winters) safe-driving program, and many others. Check out the compilation video. 

A special Decade of Excellence award was also given in recognition of 675 ideas and innovations submitted by DMV, each of which saves time and money at county offices statewide. Check out the video tribute to DMV

The winners were also announced for this year.

The first winner was in the Customer Service category, where the DMV is again going above and beyond for disabled military veterans by automatically renewing their vehicle registrations. This innovation reduces the number of phone calls from confused customers. Who were previously required to go into the physical DMV office. There are 3,500 disabled veteran plates in Idaho, so automatically renewing their registrations saves the customers a trip to the DMV and around 1,500 hours of estimated time each year.

Next is the Ideal Workplace category, where the winner was the ICONIC Youth Program, an extension of the ICONIC workforce training program geared for adults in the transportation and construction trades. Ty Winther and Jessika Doglietto spearheaded this program for youths and young adults, which gives free training on a front-end loader, skid loader and excavator to selected students, who also walk away with their OSHA 10-hour entry program and first aid certifications.

The next winner, in the Mobility & Economic Opportunity category, garnered the most votes of any innovation this year. This People’s Choice winner came from Tom Logan in south central Idaho. Temporary steel barriers are a fraction of the weight and take a fraction of the time to set up in construction areas. In fact, crews were able to set 5,000 feet of steel barriers in one night, something that would have taken up to two weeks with concrete. Since they are lightweight, they use two pins every 30 feet to prevent them from moving.

The next category is Resource Stewardship. The winner was an innovation out of north-central Idaho, addressing salt that bounced away off the road when distributed by one of our trucks in motion. Salt was scattering off of the spinner and bouncing off the rubber flaps of the sander chute, causing a significant portion to get lost in the ditch. Add in strong winds, and you’re looking at additional material not making it to the roadway surface. Adam Ott constructed a simple Salt Wrangler to address this problem, then did a comparison between trucks with and without it during application. The results were impressive.

The final winner, in the Safety category, was a stark reminder that every vote counts! The winner, by the razor-thin margin of 192 to 191, was an innovation from Chris Higginbotham in the North Idaho office. ITD needed to come up with a better way to assess and execute plans for hazard tree removal along state highway right of ways. Utilizing LIDAR tree data from the statewide inventory including height and proximity to the pavement, Higginbotham was able to import that dataset into IPLAN and cross reference it against parcel ownership data across the state. The result is a comprehensive mapping program for hazard trees.

Check out the FY24 Best of the Best recap.

ITD reigns for third time at national Snow & Ice Conference

The largest group of competitors ever (about 330) at the Snow & Ice Conference and National Snow Roadeo couldn’t slow down the ITD maintenance team, which won the national “Top Agency” title for the third time in the last four years on September 25! This year, ITD took six competitors to the event – (Pictured below, L to R: TJ Gibson, Sheldon Jones, Jed Gregersen, Dakota Morgan, Jed Henderson and Brandon Steffens).

This year, ITD also had the first individual champion (Gibson in Loader) since Jarrett Porter did it in the same event back in 2001. In fact, ITD swept the top three places in the Loader event, with Morgan taking the runner-up slot and Gregerson finishing 3rd.

The duo of Steffens and Gregerson also won this year’s Single Axle Snowplow team event, while Steffens was 2nd in Skid Steer. The team of Gibson and Henderson came in 2nd in Snowplow Tandem Axle.

Henderson and Steffens have been members of all three national title-winning teams.

“In Idaho, our first priority is work zone safety, and by being the best in maintenance equipment safety operations we minimize time in work zones for employees and the traveling public,” emphasized ITD Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney. “ITD is very proud of our 6-member team for winning the 2024 National Maintenance Safety Equipment Rodeo last week in Colorado, proving our commitment to be the best of the best in the nation, which we have been now 3 of the last 4 years!”

Several team members also had very positive things to say about the experience:

ITD would also like to thank Kelley Dick and Alan Huey for their leadership with the district, state and national roadeo events!

In addition to another team title, the ITD squad delivered top finishes in various events as mentioned earlier. The ITD contingent has performed well over the years in Colorado, with 50 Top 10 finishes on various pieces of equipment

ITD starting popular ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Idaho Department of Education are working together to kick off the first ever annual ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest. Other states and highway departments across the country conduct similar campaigns with great success. 

Starting October 1, eighth grade students across Idaho are invited to participate with their classrooms to submit a name. Contest entries will be accepted through the month of October with winning names announced by 2025. 

“Our snowplow drivers are very thankful to schools that are able to join this fun educational opportunity and help increase winter driving safety awareness!” ITD Chief Operations Officer and Deputy Director Dan McElhinney said.  

Two plows in each of six Idaho regions will be selected through voting by ITD employees. Winning names will be displayed directly on ITD plows, with winners awarded a visit to their school by that plow and driver to talk about winter safety. News media will also be invited to attend plow naming events.  

This contest is a partnership between ITD and the Idaho Department of Education for teachers in eighth grade classrooms to opt in, with the hopes of sharing winter driving safety messages as this age group will soon be in driver’s education classes. Another goal of adding unique names on plows is to cause all drivers to take a second look and be patient when driving through the winter.  

“This contest is such a fun way to engage students with a safety message that’s essential to our young drivers, especially as the weather cools and winter approaches,” Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said. “I’m grateful for the partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department and am definitely looking forward to seeing some student-named plows on the road this winter.” 

More information regarding the contest winners and plow naming events will be released once the submission and voting deadlines have passed.

Contest rules can be found on ITD’s website.

Two ITD snowplows. One has been digitally altered to say "Winning Name Here" on the front of the plow.

Name a Snowplow

Two ITD snowplows. One has been digitally altered to say "Winning Name Here" on the front of the plow.

For the first time ever, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is naming snowplows! Name A Snowplow is a fun way to spread awareness about snowplow safety, foster a sense of ownership among the community, and teach future drivers how to be safe when driving near snowplows. We are partnering with the Idaho Department of Education to collect name ideas from Idaho 8th graders. This age group was selected because they are about to attend driver’s education.  

We are asking 8th grade classrooms to come up with names and submit them by October 31, 2024. Instructions for how to submit names will be distributed to teachers through the Idaho Department of Education. ITD will also distribute educational materials about snowplow safety.  

Contest Rules: 

Eligibility 

  • Open to 8th grade classrooms.
  • Classrooms must be located in Idaho.

Submission Guidelines 

  • One name per classroom.
  • Names must be appropriate | MAX 15 characters (including spaces).
  • Submit name via Microsoft Form (Please only submit if you are teacher or homeschool parent).

*If the same name is submitted by multiple classrooms, only the first entry received will be considered. 

Selection Process 

  • Names must be submitted by October 31.
  • ITD employees will vote on submissions in November.
  • 12 winning names will be selected—two from each of Idaho’s six regions—and winners announced by early January. Names will be featured on the plows’ blades.
  • Winning classrooms will receive recognition and a special visit from the snowplow bearing its chosen name. Media will be invited to cover the event.

Additional Information 

  • Classrooms are free to conduct their own internal voting to select their submission.
  • Submissions that do not meet the criteria will be disqualified.
  • By submitting a snowplow name, you grant ITD all rights to use, display and publish the name for promotional purposes.

Timeline

  • Classrooms submit names October 1 to 31, 2024.
  • ITD Employees vote on names in November 2024.
  • Winners announced December 2024.
  • Plow visits with winning classrooms/schools December 2024 through January 2025.

Interested in participating? 

ITD communicators recognized with national awards from AASHTO

ITD’s Office of Communication received two national awards from AASHTO’s Committee on Transportation Communications (TransComm) today (September 24) at their annual meeting in Atlanta. AASHTO is the nation’s premiere transportation governing body.

Idaho won an award for “Best Use of a Single Social Media Platform” in recognition of phenomenal growth within the Instagram account – a 200% increase this year. The social media accounts are managed by Josie Bisgard, with input from each of the district PIOs around the state. The department also has Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube accounts.

ITD also won in the Writing category for “Article with DOT Byline” for a piece from Mark Pfeifer detailing how the Powell crew in north-central Idaho helped rescue an injured woman who’d fallen 200 feet down an embankment into Weir Creek. Here’s the link to that article: https://www.clearwaterprogress.com/news/itd-crew-recognized-for-help-in-rescue/article_f9ffdac0-0a52-11ee-8a09-2381c69a79f8.html

“It is so gratifying to receive this national recognition and be able to highlight some of the amazing work our communication team does each and every day,” said Office of Communication Manager John Tomlinson.  “I am so proud of our entire staff!”

ITD research on Monarch habitat, repair of earthquake-damaged bridges win AASHTO honors

Two of ITD’s research projects were recently selected by AASHTO as High Value Research winners in a competition among state DOTs across the nation. The first project, “Bees and Butterflies in Roadside Habitats” assessed pollinator diversity along Idaho’s roadsides, focusing on areas critical for monarch butterflies. The second project, “Experimental Validation of Repair Methods for Earthquake-Damaged Bridges Incorporating ITD’s Precast Pier System” focused initially on developing a precast pier system to improve the seismic resilience of bridges in Idaho. That led to a study investigating the use of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete for repairing earthquake-damaged piers, which showed promising results in restoring structural integrity.

The AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) High Value Research competition recognizes outstanding transportation research that demonstrates significant value and impact. These awards celebrate projects that address pressing issues in transportation, from improving infrastructure resilience to enhancing resource conservation. The winning projects were recognized at the AASHTO Research Advisory Committee meeting in Columbus, Ohio on July 22.

ITD Research Program Manager Ned Parrish and Senior Research Analyst Amanda Laib represented ITD and accepted the awards on behalf of the department. Amanda is pictured above center, with certificate. Winning projects from Wyoming, Colorado and Texas DOTs are also shown. The ITD projects will also be presented at a special poster session at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in January 2025.

The recognition of these projects by AASHTO underscores ITD’s dedication to advancing transportation infrastructure. These innovative research outcomes not only enhance infrastructure resilience and resource conservation but also reflects ITD’s standing as a leader in innovative transportation solutions.

ITD Roadside Program Manager Cathy Ford led the pollinator project. Researchers at Montana State University surveyed various roadside habitats, identifying patterns that support pollinator health. The study found that smaller highways and sagebrush-bordered roadsides had a higher incidence of bee and butterfly species. The project also mapped essential milkweed patches and recommended management strategies to enhance pollinator habitats. These recommendations are being integrated into ITD’s operational practices to support conservation efforts and avoid regulatory complications.

Highways Development Division Administrator and State Bridge Engineer Mike Johnson managed the earthquake-damaged bridge project. Extensive testing at Idaho State University showed the new system’s superior performance compared to traditional methods. This research led to the implementation of the precast pier system in the Interstate 15 Fort Hall Interchange, significantly reducing construction time and minimizing traffic disruptions.