Drivers, make way for Alice Scooper

ADOT contest gives names to 3 snowplows

The votes are in and the winners of The Arizona Department of Transportation’s name-a-snowplow competition were announced Friday morning.

In October, Arizonans submitted nearly 4,700 potential names, which were narrowed down to ADOT’s 15 favorites and sent for a public vote.

After tabulating about 7,000 votes, the new names of three Arizona snowplows are here:

“Alice Scooper”

“Snowgauro”

“Frost Responder”

These winning names will be affixed to the driver- and passenger-side doors of the plows. “Alice Scooper” will be stationed at a maintenance yard in Flagstaff, “Snowgauro” will be patrolling highways in Superior, and “Frost Responder”

will be housed in Page.

ADOT has 200 snowplows and 500 trained snowplow operators across the state, called to action when snow falls. Arizona’s high country can receive immense amounts of snowfall with Flagstaff being considered one of the snowiest cities in the country, according to ADOT.

These snowplows and their operators play a major role in clearing snow off of highways; laying down de-icer prior to storms; and pushing mud, boulders and debris off of highways throughout the year.

The purpose of the competition is to humanize these giant pieces of machinery, according to ADOT Director John Halikowski.

“Our hope is that this increased personal connection will lead Arizona drivers to give snowplows plenty of room, respect passing distances and practice safe driving in winter conditions,” Halikowski said in a statement.