DPW crews combat snow accumulation in southeast Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The snow has been coming down steadily, and plows are out working hard in southeast Wisconsin.
The Waukesha County Department of Public Works Department wrapped up a press conference Wednesday morning, on how they are combatting the day's snowfall.
All 52 of their plows are out plowing and salting the roads, and they say every route they cover has someone working on it and making laps.
Jon Bax, the highway patrol superintendent, says it's been steady out there so far and good progress is being made. They've been out since 7:30 this morning, and the crews will stay out until 9 p.m., rest, and then get back out there at 3 a.m. He says they've got a long week ahead.
"Those guys will go home, get some rest, because tomorrow, 19 mph winds coming tomorrow. We'll have drifting, it's going to be a long week and weekend," Bax said.
Bax said Waukesha County had 52 plow trucks on the road until 9 p.m. Their drivers focused on highways before most went home to rest up before shifts beginning at 3 a.m. Thursday.
Overnight, Bax said between seven and nine drivers would plow limited routes. During the day, he said crews got a bit of a break as this type of snow was not particularly heavy.
"It's better for us. Light and fluffy, gets it off the road," Bax said. "People driving, it'll blow it off the highways. Doing 70 miles an hour -- or 50 -- it'll blow it off to the sides. Helps at least keep the tire tracks down the main line."
James Burnett, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, said deputies responded to a total number of 74 crashes up until 8 p.m. Wednesday night. He said eight of those accidents left people injured.
One of the most impactful crashes happened outside of Madison. A stretch of I-39/90 southbound closed near Stoughton after a crash shortly before 1 p.m.
In Jefferson County, drivers have been taking breaks from the snow at the Pine Cone Travel Plaza in Johnson Creek.
Drivers say the roads have been messy causing some to leave more than a half hour early for their commute, as they've had to take it extra slow on the roads.
"Just please go slow down," said driver, Baljet Deol. "Just please go slow down, do not hurry, take extra time and when you are on the ramps go more slow."
One truck driver we spoke with says he's seen around a dozen accidents on the road and is encouraging drivers to take it easy on the roads.
"The further east you are the worse it gets, so I've seen a lot of accidents so far today," said truck driver, Chase Geske.
Drivers are worried about their commute home as the snow continues to come down.
And the Milwaukee Department of Public works says their full staff will be working extra hours.
Salt trucks pre-treated residential streets and main roads early Wednesday morning ahead of the snow.
The DPW says it could take 18-24 hours after the snow has stopped falling to plow all the streets. If the snowfall is heavy, crews may do only one pass through the residential streets to provide immediate access to cars.
Last time we had a significant snowfall in December, a lot of people voiced concerns that the crews were not properly clearing many main roads.
The department's commissioner responded to some of that criticism.
"We're going to try to get to the residential streets the quickest, although we do prioritize our arterials - this is where the main thoroughfares in the city come through," said Jerrel Kruschke, Milwaukee DPW commissioner. "We are going to try to get there as fast as possible. Luckily, we shouldn't see as much snowpack as we did last time. And that's what I think a lot of the residents kind of were seeing that last snow storm."
As all operators will be working an extended overnight shift, there will be no garbage or recycling service Wednesday.
The city is also urging people to follow parking rules with this snowfall.