GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Despite a quiet start to the winter weather season in most of West Michigan, road crews around the region have continued to stay prepared.
With the potential for an impactful winter system arriving next week, we wanted to touch base with our area road commissions to get their thoughts on winter preparations. Here's what they had to say!
Kent County:
Jerry Byrne with the Kent County Road Commission tells us that they are prepped and ready to go and have been ready for the snow for months.
Jerry said, "Well, the setup really started about Thanksgiv... well actually it starts before Thanksgiving, switching trucks from summer to winter mode, we switch over 40 people at Thanksgiving to nights, so we have 24/7 coverage. So it's really just a matter now, we're in full winter mode operation with equipment, it's really just bringing the crews from cutting brush, cutting trees, doing drainage improvements to winter maintenance."
Crews have been out working on projects they normally wouldn't be able to during the winter, including getting ahead of some warm-weather construction projects, but they haven't forgotten the winter weather either. Jerry says they are stocked up and ready to go!
He continued, "We're full, I mean, from grader blades that we haven't used hardly any of because we'd have less than two inches of snow, to full barns of salt, we have 20,000 tons plus in our buildings, plus another 20,000 at the dock. So material-wise, we're great, because we have used very little."
Ottawa County:
Over in Ottawa County, the story is much the same. Easy winter weather means crews have been out doing other projects, but remain ready for the snow.
We spoke with Alex Doty of the Ottawa County Road Commission who told us, "Our crews are watching the forecast and kind of monitoring that each day to make sure when weather rolls in we're ready to roll." He continued, "We have plenty of salt and liquid material on hand, like you mentioned, you know, it's been pretty light thus far. So we do have plenty of that available, and as far as staffing goes, you know, we are pretty much fully staffed with full-time employees, and then we have seasonal workers as well to help us out. Roughly 70 Folks, total that can hit the road and get things maintain for us, you know, when the weather hits"
Alex does encourage motorists to be patient when the snow finally does start to fall. He added, "I think one of the big things we just ask people is, you know, when it does snow, we have a significant amount of snow, or blowing snow, or things of that nature. We just asked folks to be patient and, you know, understand that it can take time for us to get through and get to all the streets just because, you know, there's so many of them here in Ottawa county, but, you know, we are working hard to get through everything and know that we'll eventually get there and just to be patient and know that we're working to get that done."
Muskegon County:
Things are slightly different over in Muskegon County, where they have already had some impactful snowfall this winter. Early in the season they got hit with a major snowfall around Halloween, and have also seen some lake-effect snow as well.
While they have had some experience under their belts this season, Andrew Nichols from the Muskegon County Road Commission says they are still well stocked!
Andrew says, "We plan for the worst every year. So even though we've had mild winters the past few years, we still plan on those winters that we've had in the past where they were more aggressive. We always have leftover material with these years, and that's just telling you that we're over-prepared just in case something happens."
Much like the other counties featured here, Andrew says his crews are ready for the snow! He told us, "we're in full-blown winter mode even though it doesn't look like you're right now. We have crews working around the clock. So this time of year, we have a night shift we have our day shift. " He continued, "So we're always prepared. The trucks are always ready for materials here. So now it's just a matter of waiting and seeing what we got."
Of course the 13 On Your Side Weather Team is also preparing for this potential storm, and will keep you prepared at home as well! Make sure you stay with us all winter long for the latest updates.
-- Meteorologist Michael Behrens
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