UDOT expands smart technology across snowplows on key winter routes
February 25, 2026
Vehicle-to-everything technology creates a digital seatbelt that helps keep Utahns safe.
The Utah Department of Transportation is expanding vehicle-to-everything (V2X) smart technology across northern Utah, equipping 259 snowplows and nearly 1,275 signalized intersections on essential winter routes.
When fully deployed, this technology will support snow removal operations serving more than 90% of Utah’s population.
Using V2X technology, snowplows communicate directly with traffic signals and roadside equipment. This reduces traffic delays by moving crews through intersections with greater ease, allowing them to clear roads faster during winter storms.
The system gives snowplows the green light at equipped intersections so they can keep moving uninterrupted along major corridors during snowstorms. By reducing unnecessary stops, V2X helps crews clear snow more efficiently, reduce congestion and improve safety during winter storms.
“Getting the green light makes a night-and-day difference,” said Codie Alsop, a UDOT snowplow driver. “We spend less time stopped at lights and more time actually clearing snow. During a storm, that matters.”
To support this system, UDOT has installed roadside units at signalized intersections along state routes. These units communicate with onboard units installed in snowplows to enable signal preemption and other safety features.
“In a major storm, every second matters,” said UDOT Transportation Technology Engineer Blaine Leonard. “This technology serves as a digital seatbelt, providing Utah drivers an unseen layer of protection while helping plows move through intersections faster so crews can clear roads more quickly.”
UDOT maintains more than 16,000 lane miles statewide and deploys hundreds of snowplows during major storms. By strategically expanding this smart technology on highly traveled roads and critical freight routes, UDOT is prioritizing snow removal where it has the greatest impact.
For the latest road condition updates, visit the UDOT Traffic website or download the UDOT Traffic app for iPhone or Android.