HOLLAND, MI – (WHTC) – The Ottawa County Road Commission monitors the weather 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the winter months using several weather services.
The trucks and plows are out even when their is freezing rain or a light dusting of snow according to their recent newsletter. When invisible “black ice” covers a roadway it can cause “headaches” for the crews for hours on end.
According to the Road Commission during a typical year they will respond to approximately 50 winter maintenance callouts, and will use about 20,000 to 25,000 tons of salt, and 14,000 to 18,000 tons of sand. The cost of winter maintenance can easily be up to $3.7 million annually, depending upon inclement weather conditons and the duration of winter months.
A policy has been developed to provide cost effective winter maintenance operations such as road conditions, weather forecasts, nature and type of storm even, time and duration of storm event.
A established priority system is based on several factors including traffic volumes, road classification and location. The priorities are as follows:
1. State Highways
2. Multi-lane Primary Roads
3. Primary Roads
4. Local Paved Roads
5. Subdivision Streets
6. Local Gravel Roads
7. Dead End Streets and Cul-de-sacs
If your mailbox is damaged by Road Commission equiptment or snow thrown from Road Commission equiptment during winter maintenance operations, you may receive a new standard mailbox.
You can reach the Road Commission at (616) 842-5400
