In this second episode of Roadside Chat, hosts Jenny Butcher and Daniel Yeh explore the behind-the-scenes work of Iowa’s winter maintenance operations with Craig Bargfrede, Winter Operations Administrator for the Iowa DOT, and guest Tina Greenfield from the Iowa DOT winter operations team.
They cover:
- What winter operations look like across the state and how the DOT prepares before a storm.
- How crews monitor incoming weather and decide when to deploy snowplows.
- The tools and technology used to track road conditions in real time.
- How plow drivers are trained, supported, and equipped for long winter shifts.
- Coordination between garages, districts, and statewide operations during storms.
- How teams respond when weather intensifies or changes unexpectedly.
- Lessons learned from past winters and improvements underway for future seasons.
Resources:
Iowa 511 App (real-time road conditions)
App Store
Google Play
Standing Corn Program
