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PennDOT Getting Ready For Sandy

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - PennDOT is already preparing for Sandy and the threat it poses to the region.

Philadelphia maintenance chief Nick Martino says he already has his crews patrolling the roadways across the region to clear drainage inlets of leaves, tree limbs, trash and debris.

That's being done, he says, to prevent flooding on the highways in the event of heavy rain that Sandy could stir up as it hugs the coast and pushes into the area.
And, Martino says, PennDOT learned a few lessons from last year's freak Halloween snowstorm.

"We're going to have to monitor it closely. We're going to have to position our field force in place to make sure that if we have to, stay ahead of the game."

Martino says there was some concern that with a cold blast of air coming from the West, a collision with Sandy could have spawned a snowstorm. That's not looking likely, but Martino says better to be prepared. And, in the event it happens, PennDOT will be ready.

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