Trucks get inspected for winter

The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is getting its trucks ready for winter.

On Oct. 18, the Amherst Maintenance Building held its annual pre-snowfall inspection of the equipment used to clear 235.8 lane miles of travel on its stretch of the toll highway.

The turnpike is 241 miles long; it has 1,395 lane miles, 31 Interchanges and 14 service plazas. The Amherst garage has 32 workers, 14 trucks on duty for plowing and the sign shop for the entire toll way.

There were 212 snowfall events in the 2016-17 winter season, said Brian Newbacher, public information officer for the turnpike.

Crews spread an average of about 66,000 tons of salt each winter, although that figure has dipped to about 56,000 tons a year the last two seasons due to relatively mild weather.

“In a brutal winter, it might go as high as a hundred thousand tons,” Newbacher said.

If the winter is mild, crews continue working on repairs to the road surface, guardrails and whatever else wears out or gets damaged, he said.

“On a 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, there’s plenty to keep them busy all year round,” Newbacher said.

The sign shop soon will have another new duty.

On Oct. 16, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission approved a memorial sign program to honor 12 men killed while working on the highway.

Surviving family members or friends of those killed are asked to call the turnpike commission at 440-971-2066 to arrange for recognition for those who died.

“It’s appropriate to honor our maintenance workers and highway patrol troopers who were killed while performing their duties for the Ohio Turnpike,” said Executive Director Randy Cole. “We also remind motorists to move over or slow down for any vehicle stopped with flashing lights.

“We must do everything we can to avoid any additional tragedies in the decades to come.”

One of the victims, Kermit C. Starkey, was from the Amherst Maintenance Section. He was killed in 1978. The other victims are: Hudson — Michael W. Kennedy, of Interstate Towing, who died in May 2015.

Sandusky Township — John Fletcher, Jan. 24, 2012, of the Elmore Maintenance Section.

Berlin Township — Trooper Robert Perez Jr., May 15, 2000, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Post 90.

Holiday City — Duane E. Cisek and Richard L. Yoh, July 31, 1997, of the Kunkle Maintenance Section.

Canfield Township — John Todd, 1987, of the Canfield Maintenance Section.

Fulton Township — Kenneth W. Geiger, 1983, of the Swanton Maintenance Section.

Townsend Township — Kenneth C. Bailey and Berton C. Stewart, Sept. 17, 1970, of the Castalia Maintenance Section.

Rossford — Trooper Jon D. Birchum, Feb. 22, 1967, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Post 89.

The turnpike commission also listed Mike H. McConnell as a victim in 1977. The exact location is unknown, and family members or anyone with knowledge about McConnell are asked to contact the turnpike commission to provide information.