Winter Maintenance Frequently Asked Questions How does KCRC respond to a winter storm? KCRC strives to complete winter operations across its network within 36 hours following the end of a snow storm. Our fleet is deployed to cover snowplow routes equating to over 5,300 lane miles of road. Day crews maintain all of the county and state snowplow routes, while evening crews maintain the snowplow routes with the highest volume/speeds – these include all state roads and county roads with the highest volumes/speeds. Please note that KCRC does NOT plow streets that are under the jurisdiction of the cities and villages of Kent County: i.e. the cities of Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Cedar Springs, Grandville, Kentwood, Lowell, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming, and the villages of Caledonia, Casnovia, Kent City, Sand Lake and Sparta. Why hasn’t my street been plowed? KCRC serves roads with high traffic volumes and speeds, first. This helps to clear the main arteries throughout the county that carry the highest number of motorists. Therefore, snow removal crews typically address roadways in the following order:

State Highways (ex: US-131, I-96, M-6)

County Primary Roads (ex: Byron Center Ave, West River Drive)

Local Paved Roads (ex: Buttrick Avenue, Courtland Drive)

County local gravel roads, lake drives, subdivision streets If snow continues to fall, KCRC may have to return to the state highways and primary roads before plowing local roads and streets. After those roads are passable, crews move on to clear local paved roads throughout the county. KCRC strives to complete winter operations across its network within 36 hours following the end of a snow storm. I have an emergency, how do I get my road cleared immediately? KCRC does not respond to special requests except through law enforcement and fire services. Residents experiencing an emergency situation should call 911. KCRC will respond as directed by law enforcement. Schools should be a priority. Why haven’t you plowed in front of my child’s school? There are over 300 schools in Kent County serving more than 120,000 students. Before families and buses can arrive on the school’s street, they must successfully navigate a route to get there. That is why our first priority must be to service the county’s main

arteries – the state trunklines and primary roads –so that routes towards these destinations are safe to travel. My car was damaged after hitting a pothole. Will KCRC reimburse me? Potholes are an unfortunate consequence of Michigan weather, and KCRC seeks to fix potholes as soon as possible after we are notified. Under Michigan law, the Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) is not liable for any damages caused by a roadway defect unless: (1) the defect constituted an imperfection that made the roadway not reasonably safe and convenient for public travel; (2) the Road Commission had notice of the defect; and (3) the Road Commission failed to take corrective measures relating to the defect within a reasonable amount of time. This is a three-part requirement. That is to say, each one of these factors must be established for liability to exist on the part of the Road Commission. Therefore, KCRC typically does not reimburse for damage due to a pothole. If you believe that all three conditions have been met, and the pothole was on a road under Kent County Road Commission jurisdiction, please contact KCRC’s Traffic and Safety Division at 616-242-6936. I’ve seen snowplows driving along during a storm with their plows raised. Why aren’t they plowing? There are a few possible reasons: 1. Plows may be in operation to spread materials, or may be out of materials to spread and headed back to the garage to reload. 2. The snowplow driver does not have the responsibility for the road he/she is currently on, and is heading elsewhere. Plow routes are designed to minimize travel in between service areas. 3. The road may have been treated with salt or de-icing products and plowing it may remove the mixture before it has an opportunity to work. Is it legal to pass a snowplow? While there are no state laws that prohibit passing a snowplow, it can be extremely dangerous. Snowplows may be equipped with wing plow blades that can extend anywhere between 2 and 10 feet – usually between 6 to 8 feet – from the right-hand side of the truck. This wing plow blade is often not seen by motorists because of the snow being kicked up. These wing plows can cause severe damage; therefore, vehicles should NEVER pass a plow truck on the right and maintain at least 200 feet distance from a moving snowplow engaged in snow or ice removal. Remember: Don’t Crowd the Plow! How can I get KCRC to fix a pothole on my street? Complete the Report an Issue online form at kentcountyroads.net or call KCRC at 616-242- 6950. What is KCRC’s policy for mailbox damage? KCRC investigates each complaint regarding a mailbox damaged during snow removal.

If an inspection shows that the mailbox was hit by a plow or other KCRC equipment, KCRC will replace the mailbox. However, if damage was caused by thrown ice or snow coming off of the plow, mailbox repair is the responsibility of the property owner. Approved replacements will be made with a standard rural mailbox / support as determined by Commission standards. (See KCRC Mailbox Policy and Report an Issue online form.) Sod on my property was damaged by a snow plow, what do I do? Despite best efforts, sod along the edge of the road occasionally may be damaged during snow removal activities. In general, KCRC will repair sod damaged by a snow plow or truck. Residents who experience sod damage are asked to contact the Road Commission by phone (616.242.6950) or complete the Report an Issue online form at kentcountyroads.net Does KCRC remove dead animals from the road or side of the road? Crews will remove large dead animals, like deer, from KCRC’s right-of-way. We will also remove smaller animals, like raccoons, from the drivable portion of the roadway. Our crews will make an effort to contact the owner of a domestic dead animal if identification can be determined. Please note that KCRC does NOT remove dead animals from yards/areas outside the right-of-way. To report a dead animal, complete the Report an Issue online form or call KCRC at 616-242-6950. If a tree falls in the traveled portion of the roadway designed for public travel; what do I do? If the tree is blocking the road, please call 911. If the tree does not cause an immediate emergency, you may also call KCRC Maintenance Division at 616-242-6950. The fallen trees will be moved outside of the road right-of-way when possible. The relocated fallen tree will be left for the property owner’s use and/or disposal. What should parents teach their children about snow plow safety?

PLAY AWAY FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. A snow plow driver often has low visibility during storms or when plowing because snow is constantly flying onto the windshield. This makes it hard for the driver to see anyone along the road.

If you hear “beeps” signaling the truck is backing up, be aware. The driver may not be able to see you in his/her mirrors. Move far away off the road, away from the truck.

Never tunnel or build forts in the snowbanks along the side of the road. Drivers will not be able to see you, and if you’re in the tunnel, you could be “snowed in” when a trucks plows next to you.

Plows can throw large chunks of ice into ditches when plowing, these could hurt you pretty badly

Wear bright colors to help plow truck drivers see you better Post these tips to your refrigerator

Why do road agency plow trucks now have green lights? Amber lights are used on vehicles performing all sorts of jobs: mail delivery, refuse pick-up, private plowing, even pizza delivery. By combining amber and green lights, public road agencies can differentiate themselves and, hopefully, motorists will learn to equate the green lights with storm response efforts or road repair. When motorists see green strobe lights, they are asked to slow down and be alert – a KCRC snowplow or road maintenance truck is performing work on the right of way. Remember: Green strobes mean go slow! Why is road salt used? Road salt is spread over roads to lower the freezing point of snow and ice; this keeps the snow “slushy” so it can be removed from the road. Before it is applied to the road, the salt is prewet with a liquid chloride solution. This lowers the melting point and reduces the likelihood of the salt bouncing from the road surface. What are the limitations of road salt? The effectiveness of salt is dependent upon pavement temperature of 15-20°F and above. When the pavement temperature drops below 15°F, the effectiveness of salt is decreased significantly, and KCRC will begin adding other chemicals such as calcium chloride or magnesium chloride to the salt to lower the melting point. Wind conditions also play a role when deciding how to apply salt or other de-icing agents. As temperatures drop and the snow becomes dryer, wind can blow snow across the pavement. If there is a chemical residue left on the pavement from a previous salt application, blowing snow can be attracted to the residue and stick to the pavement. This creates hazardous conditions that would not have existed if no de-icing agents were previously applied. The effectiveness of salt can also be affected by the type of pavement; salt works better on blacktop pavements than on textured, concrete pavements Why can’t salt be put on roads and bridges before it snows? Putting salt on road surfaces prior to a snowfall is ineffective because the salt often bounces off, or is blown from, the dry road before it can do its job. Salt is most effective after snow has accumulated and the temperature is 20° Fahrenheit or higher. Under these conditions, the salt mixes with the snow and melts the snow into slush that can be plowed off the pavement. Why is salt spread on a cleared highway after a storm is over? The projected temperature of the road surface will impact the final treatment of a road. If plowing operations have finished and a road is left in a "black and wet" condition, there is sometimes a danger of the water on the road refreezing. There are times, especially at night, when this post storm salt application may be necessary.

Why do workers spray liquid onto the roadways before a big storm arrives? Crews will spray an anti-icing agent on areas like hills, curves and bridges prior to a storm to thwart snow from sticking to the road and minimize frost or black ice. Why do bridges and overpasses freeze before the surface of the road? The heat underneath the road helps keep it warm and prevents it from freezing, or icing, as quickly as the air’s temperature. But bridges have no way to trap heat, so they freeze shortly after temperatures hit the freezing point. If the air temperature falls below freezing, a bridge’s surface will fall below freezing soon after causing rain or snow to freeze and stick to the bridge surface. Why are pavement and ground temperatures important? Why not rely on air temperature? The ability of salt or other deicing agents to melt snow and ice depends on the temperature of the road - not the air, and the two temperatures can differ by as much as 20°F. What are seasonal weight and speed restrictions? Seasonal weight and speed restrictions are legal limits placed on the loads trucks may carry and the speed at which they can travel. The intent of the restrictions is to protect the integrity of the road when frost is coming out of the ground. When seasonal weight and speed restrictions are being enforced, normal legal loads must be reduced by approximately 35% and truck vehicle speeds reduced to 35 mph. What are “All Season” roads? “All Season” roads are not subject to weight restrictions, which means that heavy-load trucks may drive on them all year. Non-all-season roads are subject to weight restrictions during the annual thaw period (late winter-early spring) to prevent damage to these roads. When thawing occurs, ground beneath the roadbed can soften and make the surface susceptible to damage from heavy loads.

12/07/17

Shake Your Mailbox YouTube Video: http://bit.ly/KCRCYouTubeSYMB

RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO “SHAKE YOUR MAILBOX” IN PREPARATION FOR THE WINTER SEASON AHEAD

KCRC is once again urging motorists to take advantage of the fall conditions and Shake Your Mailbox. Give the mailbox an aggressive shake; if the mailbox moves, it most likely needs maintenance to withstand the winter season and storm response efforts. Over the years, a mailbox post can rot or become wobbly. By grabbing and shaking it, a resident can determine if it’s secure.

“The average speed of a snow plow is only 25 to 30 miles per hour, but a large enough amount of snow pushed off the road can damage a mailbox that is not in optimal condition,” said KCRC’s Deputy Managing Director of Operations Jerry Byrne.

Addressing necessary repairs now will help residents avoid the potential hassle of delayed mail or the need to make alternate mail delivery arrangements that a damaged mailbox can cause.

KCRC has produced a video, which is posted to kentcountyroads.net, to help residents determine what to look for when deciding whether their mailbox is in need of repair or replacement.

“Quick fixes like duct tape, bungee cords and string won’t last the season,” said Byrne. “Tighten screws and ensure that your mailbox post and receptacle are secure enough to endure large amounts of thrown snow.” For mailbox guidelines and regulations, visit United States Postal Service: https://www.usps.com/manage/mailboxes.htm.

MOVE AWAY FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

Plows are big and can hide you from the driver’s view if you’re standing too close

to the road. Also, the plow pushes heavy loads of ice and snow onto the side of the road.

Snowplow Safety for Children

Play It Safe This Winter!

Did you know?

The weight of

1 plow truck can equate to

15 elephants!

WEAR BRIGHT COLORS to help plow truck drivers

see you better

PLAY AWAY FROM THE

SIDE OF THE ROAD

Never tunnel or build forts in snowbanks along the side of the road. Drivers will not be able to see you, and if you’re in the tunnel, you could be “snowed in” when a trucks plows next

to you.