Snow plow drivers in the Chicago area are enduring a relentless winter, working around the clock to keep roads clear during a series of snowstorms. With more snow expected soon, crews are stretched thin and facing long shifts.
CHICAGO - Snow plow operators in the Chicago area are facing a relentless winter, battling one storm after another. Drivers were still clearing streets in the city and suburbs on Thursday, following up to 3.5 inches of snowfall on Wednesday. Crews in Addison finished their shifts by Thursday afternoon, but the respite is short-lived. Another snow system is expected to arrive Friday evening, sending plows back out.
Addison recently received a fresh supply of road salt – 500 tons – but 200 tons were used to treat the streets on Wednesday. Officials declared it an all-hands-on-deck situation as the storm hit. Crews began working 12-hour shifts to keep 23 trucks on the roads. 'We're doing everything we can to make sure that these guys can get rest, and also that the streets are safe,' said Addison Public Works Director Ryan Hayden. Addison officials collaborate with the police department to determine when to call in plow drivers, relying on the assessment of officers on the ground. Wednesday's storm proved to be a lengthy one, with hours of plowing before salt could be effectively applied. Addison Streets Department foreman Ronald Remus, along with other drivers, spent nearly the entire 12-hour shift on the road. 'We will come in for like a 20-minute break, or you come in for more fuel or more salt, but other than that, everybody's in for the 12 hours,' he explained. Some plow drivers revealed they are prepared to sleep at the site during extended snowstorms with significant accumulation, rather than risk driving home in hazardous conditions
SNOWSTORM CHICAGO PLOW DRIVERS WINTER WEATHER ROAD CONDITIONS
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