(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – In a galaxy not so far away, ‘Darth Blader' is leading our snow-clearing forces in Anchorage today, armed with the strength of resilience and the determination to keep Alaska moving in the face of winter's icy empire. Darth Blader, the winner of the 2023-24 Alaska DOT&PF Name a Snowplow Contest, was chosen after over 900 creative name suggestions from the community were entered, showcasing Alaskan’s winter spirit and appreciation for our winter plow operators.

Those attending the Alaska Snow Summit in-person and viewing on the Facebook Live event voted to narrow down the entries to the top choices where our plow operators then choose the winner. Darth Blader will proudly serve the Glenn Highway from Muldoon to Hiland Road and the Seward Highway from 5th Ave to Potter's Marsh.

The Name a Snowplow Contest is a fun and lighthearted way for Alaskans to engage with our crews, while also recognizing the critical role our plow operators play in keeping our highways open and safe for everyone. “Alaska's winters require resilient efforts to keep our roads clear, and our maintenance and operations crews work tirelessly to ensure this,” said Central Region Maintenance & Operations Chief Kirk Warren Kirk Warren.

We thank everyone for their enthusiasm and support, and we look forward to 'Darth Blader' leading us into another winter season. For further information about the "Name a Snowplow Contest" please visit dot.alaska.gov/nameasnowplow and for snowplow safety visit dot.alaska.gov/snowplowsafety

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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