SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - As winter approaches, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) staff are hard at work, making sure they are ready for upcoming storms. By storing salt and inspecting vehicles, they are trying to minimize any future issues.

Highway maintainer Zachary Van Meter is getting ready for another year operating a snow plow. It's a job that requires a lot of multitasking and focus, even during 12-hour shifts.

"You're looking at a lot between the temperature gauge, brake pressure, speedometer, tachometer," Van Meter said. "We're going to move a lot slower, but we're doing the best that we can to make the roads as safe as we possibly can. That's our ultimate goal."

Van Meter said one of the elements of plows that people don't always understand is how wide they are. O

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