Why Do Bulldozers Make Paths in Snowy Fields Near Idaho Highways

I’m pretty sure we have all seen these paths in the snow near Idaho highways and never questioned why they were there.

They could have been caused by a snowmobile or a farmer checking his property, but it turns out that if you see what actually made the tracks, you’ll be surprise at the reason.

Have You Ever Noticed These ‘Paths’ in the Snow Near Idaho Roads

If you were to drive by as the paths were being made, you’d be surprised to see a large bulldozer with a special plow blade on the front driving through the snow covered field. He doesn’t have a destination, he's not prepping for spring planting, and he may drive in a line and then head back a few feet further into the field.

The bulldozer never plows the road and the Idaho Transportation Department explained why dozers make these deep paths in the snow covered fields. It may sound weird, but it’s to help keep snow from getting to the highway. The post on Facebook says if ‘the snow is gonna come down and the wind is gonna blow’ they use the bulldozers with special V-plows to create snow traps.

Here’s Why They Plow Paths in Snowy Idaho Fields Near Highways

When the wind does start to blow and the snow starts to get spread around the field, these deep grooves, or snow traps, catch the snow and keep it from getting to the highway and causing a dangerous situation for drivers or forcing road closures.

RELATED STORY: Redneck Snow Plow Idea for Idaho Driveways

The bulldozer use is a brilliant trick…almost as cool and redneck-level as using a pallet strapped to the front of a truck as a driveway snowplow.