LEVEL OF SERVICE

All Crawford County Trunk Highways are classified in two classes. Class A highways have an average daily traffic count of 700 vehicles or more. Class B highways have an average daily traffic count of 700 vehicles or less. The highways in those classes and levels of service designations are noted below.

CLASS A County Trunk Highways are:

CTH "E" (from STH 60 to STH 131) and CTH "K".

Level of Service: Reduced service from 8 p.m. - 4 a.m. Plow to maintain traffic. Bare pavement as soon as practical after a storm. "Bare pavement", shall be defined as pavement without ice or snow extending 4 feet (2 foot either side) of the centerline of the highway.

CLASS B is all County Trunk Highways not noted in Class A.

Level of Service: Receives no service between 8 p.m. - 4 a.m. except to keep them passable in all types of storms. "Passable", shall be defined as not having both lanes impassable to traffic.

Sanding and salting of all critical areas as practical after the storm. "Critical Areas", shall be defined as curves, hills and intersections.

Village and Town roads that are maintained by the department shall receive the level of service requested by the municipality or if additional non-designated units are available, and may be utilized upon request of those municipalities authorized designated personnel.

PRIORITY ROUTES:

Class A roads shall have priority over Class B roads. All County Trunk highways shall have priority over Town roads.

If additional men and equipment are not designated or unassigned they may be assigned to lesser priority road maintenance.

The Highway Commissioner is the Department head and shall have authority over all winter maintenance operations. He shall designate, as required, the necessary responsibility to Department Supervisors to implement the Winter Maintenance Policy. Standard Operating Procedures for winter storms shall be as follows. Calls to be made in the order listed below until first contact is made.

When it appears a major winter storm is in progress, which might require special efforts on the part of the Highway Department, the following procedures shall be followed:

1. a. Highway Commissioner

b. Patrol Superintendent

c. Foreman, in order as listed on phone calling list

2. The Commissioner, if not in service, shall be advised.

The Department will study the storm conditions and decide the level of response required.

The Supervisors in charge shall determine the time and place to use sand/salt based on prevailing conditions at the time of the decision. All salt spreaders shall be calibrated to deliver no more than 300 pounds of salt per lane mile when practical.

OPERATIONS

Stalled Vehicles: Stalled vehicles shall not be moved by County Highway Personnel or equipment, unless the vehicle is in the traveled roadway and endangering the traveling public. Department personnel encountering such obstacles shall notify their immediate supervisor, if possible, before any action is taken.

Mailbox Replacement: Mailboxes shall not be allowed closer to traffic than the shoulder line (outside edge of the shoulder), with the box and base strong enough to withstand wind, flying snow and slush from traffic and snowplows. Operators who hit mailboxes with their plow or wing shall note time and place of the incident, and report it to their immediate supervisor as soon as practical.

Mailboxes and/or bases hit by County equipment shall be repaired or replaced, whichever is more practical, as soon as emergency snow removal operations have abated. All reports of damage and potential damages that are reported by private citizens, shall be turned over to the County’s Insurance carrier as soon as practical.

Documentation of all incidents shall be mandatory and it shall be the responsibility of the Supervisor in charge to ensure compliance.

The Crawford County Highway Committee recognizes that conditions may be so unusual or unexpected that a departure from this general policy should be authorized. Therefore, when conditions warrant, the Highway Commissioner, in consultations with the Patrol Superintendent, and/or Sheriff may order a departure from these general rules when, in his opinion, conditions warrant such action. "Winter is coming and bringing with it slippery roads and blowing snow. We need everyone’s cooperation to help ensure safe travel," said Crawford County Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock.

"The goal of winter maintenance is to make roadways safe within the limitations of resources, roadway protection, and environmental concerns," says Pelock. "These limitations do not allow for identical treatment of all highways, so activities need to be prioritized."

There are some specific service level expectations, which depend on the highway classification. The classification in turn depends on traffic volumes. Within Crawford County there are two classes of State roads, "high volume" and "all other." Each class has its own guidelines and service restrictions.

"In Crawford County only Highway 18 is classified as a high volume highway. On this class of highway we strive to provide bare pavement of the travel lanes throughout the storm by performing winter maintenance activities 24 hours per day throughout the storm. Bare pavements shall be provided as soon as possible after the storm. Gravel shoulders shall remain white but paved shoulders shall be made bare, after the storm, during normal working hours. Depending upon the size of the storm, it could also result in a reduction of service to all other State highways in order to maintain 24-hour service on the USH 18. When service level calls for 24-hour operations it refers to providing continuous service throughout the storm. It should not be construed as meaning 24-hour operations every day throughout the entire winter even though there is no storm.

"On the "All other" class of highway we plow all lanes and strive to provide bare pavement in the driving lane throughout the storm," Pelock explained. "Service on these highways is reduced from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday. This means plowing and spreading salt and/or sand will only be done when necessary to maintain traffic flow. Service to clear roads for emergency purposes will be provided as needed during the "down time" periods. After the storm, during normal working hours, all lanes shall have bare pavement as soon as possible. The shoulders shall be cleaned up but remain white after the storm."

US Highway 61, along with Highways 27, 35, 60, 82, 171, 131 and 179, are classified as "all other" State roads.

State Trunk Highway road conditions are available by calling 1-800-762-3947.

Back to the Courier Press!