Get Creative: Fifth Annual Snowplow Naming Contest Now Open! - KXLG 11/06/2024
The Fifth Annual Snowplow Naming Contest, hosted by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), is now open and will run until Friday, December 6, 2024. Over the past four winters, SDDOT has engaged with thousands of South Dakotans in naming snowplows. On average, the contest receives about 700 submissions each year.
“We are truly the primary resource for South Dakota travelers throughout the year. We know that our efforts to enhance safety are critical, whether during construction season or during a multi-day blizzard,” said Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt. “To keep our travelers informed, we have recently updated our winter travel alerts and road conditions resource page on our website to provide important updates and road-related information.”
The Snowplow Naming Contest graphic is on the SDDOT home page at https://dot.sd.gov. This graphic links to the contest page and the online entry form, where you can submit multiple entries. After voting closes in early December, SDDOT will announce one officially named snowplow in each of the 12 geographic areas across South Dakota.
As part of the contest, SDDOT also provides snowplow and winter driving safety awareness materials, including coloring sheets, crossword puzzles, and word searches for families and classrooms. Newly created materials are available for download on the contest page at https://dot.sd.gov/snowplow.
The Blizzard Bracket offers additional opportunities for public engagement and promotes winter safety messaging. During the first Blizzard Bracket competition, over 70,000 votes were cast. This competition is held in March and April and includes all previously named snowplows.
In addition to providing the latest press releases about interstate closures and reopening statuses, this resource page features links to SD511. The page (https://dot.sd.gov/winter-info) also includes real-time photos and videos of snowplow operators at work, offering a firsthand look at current winter weather conditions.
For the latest road and weather conditions, please visit https://www.sd511.org or dial 511. You can sign up for customized notifications, a free service that allows users to receive text messages and/or email alerts with updates on road closures and travel advisories along their chosen routes. You may also download the SD511 app to your smartphone to access the latest information at your fingertips.
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