Despite the comfortable temperatures in much of the state in recent days, Winter is not too far away, and the State Transportation Department is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. This is November – not too early to get hit with snow and ice. And, Tim Jackson with the State Transportation Department says plans are in place to deal with whatever Winter sends our way. There are a lot of plows ready to remove the snow from the highways – and plenty of salt to deal with icy roads. There’s not much chance the folks at MoDOT will be caught off guard. Jackson says the Department has about 1,800 snow plows and trucks to remove the snow and ice. And, about 3,000 maintenance workers and other MoDOT employees who are used in snow removal efforts.