ASSOCIATED PRESS
HELENA – The state of Montana has spent more than $2 million on snow plowing so far this year surpassing what costs were this time over the last two years.
The “Independent
Record” reported Oct. 29 that snow plowing costs for the state Department of
Transportation increased by more than 250 percent since last year.
Department
officials say they spent $575,577 from July 1 to Oct. 28 last year, and
$544,872 during the same period in 2017. The costs include labor, operating
equipment and materials.
Record
snowstorms have hit large regions just days into the fall season, breaking
decades-long snowfall records in cities like Great Falls. Officials say about
277,800 miles have been plowed so far this season. Only a quarter of that was
plowed this time last year.
