It's 3 a.m. on a Tuesday in the middle of January, and you're asleep in a warm bed. Outside, blinding snowfall is blanketing the landscape, laced with freezing rain and blustering winds. Public Employee Local 71 crews, working for the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT), have already been out in this weather for several hours, working to beat your 6 a.m. alarm.
While you are at work or school, or driving to and from activities and home, the men and women of Local 71 continue to battle the elements to clear, de-ice and plow our roads and airport runways. We do all in our power to assure that once your car pulls out of the driveway, you stay safe.
Alaskans understand the importance of safe highways during winter and the mothers and fathers at Local 71 get it, too. We are a part of our community and our state. However, in a time when oil prices have slid from about $110 a barrel to the $50 range, the Alaska state Legislature is doing its job: looking out for Alaska's best interests in a time of fiscal concern. The bottom line is that there are over 5,000 miles of road to plow, and significantly less money to get the work done. Needless to say, there will be far less time and money spent clearing and maintaining Alaska's transportation network this winter.
This is not a complaint; we recognize the budget climate and understand some services will shrink. Yet, while there may be fewer dollars to spend, it will not change the Local 71 or Transportation department passion to keep our transportation network as clear as possible, and our friends and neighbors — all Alaskans —safe.
During and after snow events, roads will still be plowed and bridges de-iced, but not as quickly or as frequently as drivers might expect from years past. Crew schedules will change to meet the increasing demand. Responsible budget cuts have eliminated 85 positions across the department, including 34 in maintenance. Yet, it will not change the Local 71 or department passion to keep our transportation network as clear as possible, and keep all Alaskans safe.
Meanwhile, the state has created a five-tier priority system for clearing roadways, based on their traffic volume, speeds and uses. Level 1 roadways, those that experience high hourly traffic, include highways, expressways and safety corridors of major urban and community routes. Level 1 roadways will be cleared within 24 hours of a storm event. These Level 1 roads are mostly located in cities with larger populations, including Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.
The next type of road the transportation department recognizes is Level 2: major highways with a lesser priority based on traffic volume, which often connect to Level 1 roads. Level 2 roads will get cleared within 36 hours after a storm.
Level 3 includes major local roads, or collector roads, in larger urban areas, and those will wait as long as 48 hours before clearing occurs. Minor local roads are classified as Level 4, and can expect winter maintenance within 96 hours. Once you hit the department's Level 5 category, these are primarily summer use-only roads, which are not plowed. If you're wondering about roads near you, check out the department's Winter Road Maintenance Priority Map online.
Alaskans are tough, and we're not afraid to tighten our belts or help one another out when there's a need. When frigid rain coats roads with ice and deep snow builds up, Local 71 will partner with municipalities around the state to share the load.
We drive the same highways and streets as your family. Each one of our 2,500 members is proud to respond to the call to clear and maintain some of the state's 5,619 miles of highway, 249 rural airports or 720 public facilities throughout the state. And at each job, safety is our No. 1 priority.
At Local 71 we are committed to keeping roads, parking lots and runways clear, planes in the sky, and providing meals and maintenance to Pioneer Homes all over the state. We work hard and find great satisfaction in serving Alaska.
Dennis Moen is president of Public Employees Local 71.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary@alaskadispatch.com.