Wicomico County prepares for icy road conditions
A lot of folks in Wicomico County were caught off guard this President’s Day because of the unexpected snow fall.
William Crittendon a Salisbury resident says, “Well I didn’t expect this much of it. This is more than we’ve had for the rest of the winter.”
Crittendon was out early Monday, and like a good neighbor he had his shovel in hand
“The neighbors are good to me and I’m good to them.I’m having a great snow day.” says Crittendon.
The snow however became mixed precipitation, increasing the chances for icy conditions and prompting Irvin Chester, a Salisbury resident, to get to work at his local church to prepare for services on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow I’m quite sure they’re going to show up…the pastor and all and I figured someone might clean the sidewalk up,” says Chester.
In Wicomico County, residents received anywhere from 4 to 5 inches. The county road division officials tell us they have been playing catch up all day.
Lee Outen, the Wicomico County Roads Superintendent says, “We are certainly behind on it but our plan is to plow all the roads in Wicomico County, we’ll probably hold on going into the subdivision at this point.”
Outen tells us the county has plenty of equipment; 45 pieces including trucks, plows, and loaders for plowing and salting. The trouble is President’s Day is a federal holiday so they were a little understaffed, but Lee tells us there is at least one positive side to snow on a holiday.
“There is not as many people out on the road today as their normally would be in a normal weekday. That certainly makes it easier for our operators to their job,” says Outen.
However, Outen says there is concern with the changeover in precipitation.
“When it turns to rain it becomes more slick and initially the rain will turn into slush,” says Outen.
Maryland State Highway officials warns drivers to keep driving carefully regardless of how the roads may look.
Bob Rager the MD State Highway Administration spokesperson says, “What happens is people get out their on the roads and they see clear pavement and a little bit of slush and kind of zing right through it. You really can’t be doing that.”
County and state officials say they have no plans to remove crews from roads anytime soon and they will continue to monitor the weather within the next few hours.
