x
Breaking News
More () »

ARDOT launches pilot project, partners with Conway for safer winter-weather travel

"With this, they can depict real-time road conditions just like we do on our map to their citizens,” said Danny Straessle with ARDOT.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Traditional winter weather season begins in November, but crews began preparing for worst long before that.

Although the metro didn't see a wintry mix, parts of the state did on Wednesday morning.

"We cover more than 16,400 miles," said Danny Straessle, spokesman for Arkansas Department of Transportation.

ARDOT came prepared Wednesday morning for areas of Arkansas hit with a wintry mix.

“We rolled in really locked and loaded this year,” said Straessle.

Straessle said the department has new equipment to work with this year, and overstock of rock salt from last winter that help them treat more roads this year.

"Life goes on, people still have to get to the hospital to work, first responders still have to go out on calls,” said Straessle.

Every year, ARDOT works to better maintain a reliable transportation system.

This year, they started a new pilot project, partnering with the City of Conway.

"This year we are reporting all our winter weather driving conditions to the ARDOT app: iDriveArkansas,” said Bobby Kelly, spokesman for Conway.

"Cities, if they haven't been successful at clearing their major roads, you can't get out of your neighborhood to get to the interstates we've cleared. So with this, they can depict real-time road conditions just like we do on our map to their citizens,” said Straessle.

RELATED: Rock Region Metro wants public's help in deciding network's future

RELATED: You can ride the streetcars in the Little Rock area for free in 2020!

Before You Leave, Check This Out