KALAMAZOO, MI --

Look out, Old Man Winter.

The

will roll out its newest weapon against snow-covered roads in the Kalamazoo area Tuesday. The Tow Plow allows one plow operator to do the work of two, according to MDOT communications representative Nick Schirripa.

This plow is a patented, tandem-style machine that essentially is a snowplow towed by a standard plow truck, according to an MDOT press release. It can clear widths up to 25 feet or two full lanes in one pass.

The Tow Plow can save time since it can clear both the travel lane and shoulder in one pass, reducing labor, equipment and fuel costs.

Beginning Tuesday morning, the truck will be out on I-94 between Portage Road and exit 56 in Paw Paw on a trial basis. MDOT officials will test the Tow Plow and see if the equipment is a good fit for the MDOT Southwest Region, which includes Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties.

"MDOT is constantly looking for new and safer ways to provide customer services more efficiently," said MDOT Southwest Region Engineer Bobbi Welke in a statement.

The Tow Plow is already being used on I-96 and US-23 in Livingston County and has been used in Missouri, Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin, Utah and Ohio.



The truck also comes equipped with a salt hopper to spread salt on icy roadways.

Aaron Mueller is a public safety reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact him at amuelle1@mlive.com or 269-568-3867. Follow him on Twitter.