IRON MOUNTAIN -- This may seem like another day in the garage of the Dickinson County Road Commission. But crews are working tirelessly to prepare equipment for the upcoming snowstorm expected to hit the U.P.
That means making sure the trucks are in good shape and that the road commission is properly staffed.
"Since our crew is getting smaller over the last 5 to 10 years, we don't have enough guys to fill out our routes," said Road Commission Superintendent Jeff Hart. "So we have temporary drivers that we have to make sure we can get ahold of so they can come in on time for the snowstorm."
When a snowstorm hits, the road commission is on the streets as early as 4 a.m. and often continues plowing and salting well into the evening.
John McDonald has been plowing Dickinson County roads for five years. He said the secret is to be ready both physically and mentally.
"You just try to make sure everything is in order here so we have the parts and plow blades and whatever," said McDonald. "Then when the storm comes, you just kind of get ready and make sure you have enough sleep."
While the work continues in anticipation of the snow, Hart is hopeful this storm could just be a flash in the pan.
"One thing about when you get [snow] now, it usually doesn’t last very long," he said. "You get them cleaned up and the temperature usually warms up enough where...it’s going to melt the remaining that's left on the road. We've still got to take care of it when it happens."
Depending on the conditions, crew expect to be hitting the streets by 4 a.m. Wednesday.
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