Tow Plows Added to New York DOT Fleet

State transportation officials have unveiled new plows designed to boost snow-removal efforts on New York roads. All they need now is some snow.

Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew Driscoll says that 62 vehicles known as "tow plows" will be deployed this winter.

Tow plows attach as trailers to the back of the large DOT dump trucks typically used as plows. The tow plow can be hydraulically adjusted to swing out to the side of the truck. Used along with the front-mounted plow, the vehicles can simultaneously clear two travel lanes at once.

A dozen of the new plows will be used on Interstates 81 and 88 and State route 17 in the Southern Tier with nine operating in Central New York.

Parts of western and central New York had between a foot and 3 feet of snow last weekend, but the Southern Tier and Central New York have yet to receive enough snow to warrant major plowing operations this season.

The DOT reminds motorists it is always dangerous to try to pass a plow truck and the new tow plows, while equipped with cameras, have even less visibility.  Drivers should always give the plows plenty of room to do their work.