Ocean County Road Crews Are Ready

Mother Nature is teaming up with ol' man winter today.  It's still up in the air about final snow totals.  Regardless, Ocean County Road Crews are prepped and ready to go.

What's been a relatively mild Winter is taking a dramatic turn today.  The snow plows are gassed up, the salt is ready and the coffee is set to brew.  Tom Curcio heads the Ocean County Road Department.  He says what's unique about the storm is the rain, then snow and back to rain scenario.  He explains "normally, when a snow storm is approaching, we are able to take pre-emptive measures.  We would put a brine mixture on the roads that would help protect them from icing.  Because of the multiple rain events, that will be washed away.  We can't do it.  It's just a waste of money when that happens."

Curcio and his 170-man crew are watching the forecast closely.  They are responsible for 15-hundred lane miles through 33 municipalities.  This Winter has been ok, but in the last few weeks, they have used a lot of salt.  Curcio tells us they have replenished the supplies and have enough to go around for the rest of the season.

Curcio urges everyone if you don't have to be out on the roads, stay home and let the plows and salt trucks through.  If you do have to go out, give yourself plenty of braking time and be careful of black ice.