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