Marshfield Street Division Snow Removal Puts Safety First
Winter in Wisconsin means snow, and removing that snow from the roadways is a job the Marshfield Street Division takes very seriously.
“Our goal at the Marshfield Street Division is to provide safe winter driving conditions in a timely manner as possible with efficiency and safety through training of staff, proper equipment and technology,” said Mike Winch, Street Superintendent.
With twenty-two employees assigned to routes, four support staff in the shop and three supervisors, and an administrative assistant, all thirty-one full-time employees are involved one way or another.
In addition to using three motor graders, four front end loaders, two skid steer loaders, six plow trucks with salters, nine plow trucks and one tanker truck for anti-icing, all plow trucks and motor graders are equipped with wings (an added plow device mounted on the side of the truck for more efficiency).
This combination of manpower and equipment takes careful coordination and budgeting.
“A ten-year average is used in the annual budget process for snow and ice removal,” said Winch, adding that the four main elements are labor, overtime, equipment charges, and materials used for de-icing.
“Everyone involved in the budget process is well aware of the importance of safe winter driving conditions and if there is a hard and/or extended winter season, budget resolutions may be needed,” he said.
Beginning in October, the street crew does a “dry” run of their assigned routes and records/marks high manholes, water valves and other potential hazards that could cause damage to plow trucks and/or injury to the public or personnel.
“At the Street Division, we have the DTN Weather Service which we rely on in determining when and how to approach predicted snow falls,” said Winch. “When snow is predicted, we make sure that there is enough road salt and other de-icing materials readily available for our use. We may have the guys mount the front plows to the trucks and make sure all lights are working and the truck itself is ready for action.”
Newer to the department is an anti-icing system, something many counties and municipalities have been using with great success.
“Anti-icing is applying a liquid with salt brine and some beet juice to the streets before the snowfall begins,” explained Winch. “By applying the anti-icing product, the streets won’t ice over as fast, thus giving us time to react to clear the streets quicker and there is not as much hard pack on the streets.”
Every snow event is different and the Street Division’s plan of attack is adjusted accordingly to provide safe streets as soon as possible.
“All streets within the city limits including State and County roads are plowed by the Street Division,” explained Winch. “We also do McMillian St, Lincoln Ave., 29th St, Galvin Ave, which are border roads to neighboring townships.”
All plow routes have been predetermined, with main arterial streets being first priority, followed by secondary streets.
“If fully staffed, an average snow will take between 4-6 hours to clear and that depends on what time we have to plow,” said Winch. “Obviously the more traffic on the streets the longer plowing is going to take.”
To help the department with their goal of safety and efficiency, there are precautions drivers can take. Simply slowing down and keeping a safe distance from plow equipment is important, as is practicing safe driving habits such as obeying traffic control and putting the cell phone away. When cleaning the driveway, residents shouldn’t place snow in the street or push snow across the street.
