Wide Missouri snowplows gain favor in other states

Missouri-developed TowPlows clear highways during snowstorms last year. MoDOT photos

Thursday, December 9, 2010

A Missouri-developed snowplow may soon be used for clearing roads across the country.

The TowPLow is a steerable plow that is pulled behind a snowplow truck and is able to swing out to one side, which doubles the plow width of a snowplow truck. It allows snow to be cleared from a roadway with fewer trucks and operators, saving on labor and equipment.

The TowPLow was developed by MoDOT staff and first used in Kansas City in January 2005.

Several other states — including Maine, Utah, Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Iowa — have already copied Missouri’s lead and are using TowPLows.

With more than 65 TowPLows now in its fleet, MoDOT leads the nation in wide-plowing technology. During winter storms in Missouri, specially trained snowplow drivers do the work of two people with just one truck.

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