CRESTVIEW — The Florida Department of Transportation will conduct a winter weather exercise 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday in Okaloosa, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Motorists may notice an increased number of FDOT vehicles on state routes during the drill as FDOT field maintenance and operations department staff simulate a winter storm.
FDOT crews will react to simulated icy weather conditions and deploy snow plows, chemical spreaders and various ice and snow removal equipment throughout the area.
The training exercise is designed to deal with snow and ice removal during inclement weather, coordinate FDOT personnel and equipment, and monitor safety and efficiency of operations in case of a winter storm.
FDOT’s winter weather plan is being developed to keep Florida’s highway system safe and operational in all types of weather conditions, according to a news release.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Dept. of Transportation schedules winter weather exercises