Jerry Kennedy shovels the sidewalk around the 150 South Main Street site as a subcontractor for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler in Butler, Pa. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.

The first snowfall of the winter didn't really produce any big emergencies, due to diligent salt truck drivers and careful motorists.

That's the word from Mike Matis, Butler County manager at the state Department of Transportation's District 10.

Matis said 42 trucks tended to 1,600 miles of state roadway in the county from about 5 p.m. Thursday until Friday morning.

“We didn't get as much snow up north, but the southern part of the county got up to three inches,” Matis said. “I would say from Route 422 down to the county line (received the heaviest snow).”

He was not aware of any road closures or accidents that caused injury during the winter blast.

“I give credit to all of the (PennDOT) operators as well as the people driving on the first snow,” Matis said. “They probably slowed down and gave themselves some extra time.”

Dispatchers at the county 911 center said Friday morning that they received calls for only a few minor accidents.

Matis said his PennDOT truck drivers worked in two shifts to scrape, plow and treat the snowy roads.

Those scheduled to work noon to 8 p.m. Thursday stayed until midnight, and the drivers scheduled to arrive at 4 a.m. Friday came in at midnight and worked until noon.

“It was a team effort,” Matis said. “I think everything worked well together to get through the first big storm.”

He said motorists who see an icy area or section of state roadway causing issues for drivers can call District 10's Butler office, where the phone is answered 24 hours per day in bad weather.

That number is 724-284-8800.

Matis said experiencing the first significant snowfall of the winter in January is not the norm for Western Pennsylvania.

“This is an unusual winter,” Matis said. “We've had some extremely nice weather, until now.”