Local plows preparing for accumulating snow heading to Rochester area

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City, county, and state snow plows are already getting prepared in anticipation of accumulating snow heading for our area.

News10NBC takes a look at what’s being done ahead of time to help remove snow and ice from our roadways.

Believe it or not, snow plows are already out and about putting down a layer of salt or a pre-treatment solution on our roads to keep them from freezing over.

“We’re salting roads as needed and we’ll be ready and able when the snow starts to fly,” said New York Department of Transportation Spokesman Joseph Leathersich.

He says safety is the No. 1 priority when it comes to dealing with the snow expected to fall later this week. Besides salting State Highways such as 390, 490, 590, 531, and 104, right now it’s all about getting their trucks ready.

“You know making sure that any repairs are made if necessary and just generally being ready,” said Leathersich. “You know we’re always talking to other agencies and are ready to hit the road when the snow starts to fly.”

The City of Rochester has been filling its trucks with salt before sending them out ahead of the storm.

“We’re going out making sure our higher elevations are salted,” said Karen St. Aubin, the Director of Operations at the City’s Department of Environmental Services. “We have all the trucks. We have the staff. We’re shifted right 24/7. We’re good to go.”

St. Aubin tells us these trucks will first handle primary and secondary streets in the city.

“After 3 inches of snow has fallen we come in and do the residential roadways,” said St. Aubin. “After 4 inches of snowfall, we’ll do the sidewalks supplementary for the homeowners. Homeowners are really responsible, but we come in and help out with significant snowfall is dumped.”

News10NBC also talked to David Lindsay, who besides his other duties is also the Commissioner of Public Works for the Town of Chili. He tells us what roads he’s responsible for.

“We will handle their secondary streets under contract,” said Lindsay.
“And the same thing with the county, we handle the county roads for snow and ice control via a contract with them.”

Click on the following links if you’re interested in becoming a snow plow driver for either the State or the City of Rochester.