During heavier snowfalls of five inches or more, motorists in the Albert Lea area may encounter a new snow-removing technology known as a “tow plow” on area highways, including Minnesota Highway 13 and U.S. Highway 69.

The tow plow is a trailer-mounted plow that is pulled and operated from a snowplow. It operates at any angle up to 30 degrees and is capable of plowing snow at normal plowing speeds of 30 mph. The 26-foot-wide plow gives the operator the ability to move snow efficiently and safely from two lanes of roadway in one pass.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation in southeastern Minnesota is currently testing a tow plow from the Twin Cities area — one of six in the state — for snow removal use in the Albert Lea area. MnDOT plans to equip a new plow truck with a tow plow in the future for the Albert Lea area.