We’re interested in hearing from you on UDOT Click ‘n Fix — but not just about potholes and traffic signals. We also want your help stopping water pollution. That’s right, water pollution. I was surprised when I first heard about this too! Besides having miles and miles of highways to monitor, we also have acres and acres of right-of-way, and we want to make sure any bodies of water downstream, or near these areas, remain clean and pollutant-free.
Here’s where you come in: If you see any spills or illicit discharges on a UDOT maintained route, open the Click ‘n Fix app, answer a few questions and we’ll have our risk management division investigate.
Big Cottonwood Creek flows right next to S.R. 190 and the UDOT right-of-way. Please let us know if you see any spills or pollutants making their way into our waterways by using UDOT Click ‘n Fix. Not only in obvious places like Big Cottonwood Canyon, but also in populated areas where storm drains eventually empty into water.
So, what are spills and illicit discharges?
Spills are when something other than storm water unintentionally “spills” on the highway or right-of-way. For example, after a car crash, a vehicle may leak oil or antifreeze onto the highway. It needs to be properly cleaned up and disposed of to keep the pollutants out of the storm drain or an adjacent stream, river, lake or wetland.
Illicit discharges may also be unintentional or they may be illegal dumping activities. Some examples of illicit discharges are sprinkler runoff that contains pesticides, fertilizers or weed killers; detergents, oil and grease from washing a car; or someone dumping waste into a storm drain. We also want to know if someone is connecting a pipe or ditch to UDOT’s property or drainage system.
The UDOT Click ‘n Fix app is available on Google Play or iTunes and on our website. Please keep in mind that if you witness something that is endangering public safety, please call 911. This not only applies to spills and pollutant discharges, but also our other Click ‘n Fix issues like road debris.
With your help, we hope to keep pollutants from entering storm drains and making it into Utah’s streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Utah is such a beautiful state, and water is so precious that you can count us in for doing everything we can to keep it pristine.
Region Four’s Monte Aldridge received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the category of leadership on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. The following nomination was submitted by Rick Torgerson, Region Four Director.
Monte Aldridge
Monte Aldridge is leading a cultural shift with long-term business implications by developing relationships of trust and influencing his peers and other stakeholders in the implementation of several key UDOT initiatives. He continually aligns people and processes in the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, implementation of 3D design and advancement of wildlife connectivity/vehicle collision reduction.
The use of GIS tools has been a remarkable breakthrough for UDOT and allows for making better decisions while improving efficiency in delivering projects that address each of UDOT’s Strategic Goals and the governors SUCCESS Framework initiative. While GIS has a sophisticated infrastructure, under Monte’s leadership his team has embraced the new technology to understand and develop its capabilities.
Monte has helped keep UDOT moving into the future with 3D design, which is a national effort within Departments of Transportation and the Federal Highways Administration. This quickly developing technology is revolutionizing the design, construction and communication of roadway projects. Monte’s continuous incorporation of 3D Design into team processes, problem-solving scenarios and public settings has seeded a synergy that is moving his peers to forge ahead developing higher quality products while also achieving significant taxpayer savings.
Region 4’s Monte Aldridge stands with Executive Director Carlos Braceras (left) and Governor Herbert with his award.
Monte’s leadership in connecting state and federal agencies, counties, landowners and sportsmen’s groups to a clear vision and fostering collaborative solutions has led to innovative products, financial partnerships, new agreements and most importantly, trusting relationships resulting in a reduction of nearly 1,050 yearly vehicle/wildlife collisions in Southern Utah.
Congratulations Monte! Thank you for your excellent example and leadership.