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Short-Staffed Road Crews Fight Freeze

Roads conditions are improving following Sunday's snowstorm, but it all depends on where you are.  Parking lots remain covered in frozen slush, and it was still a slippery commute Wednesday for many Metro Detroiters.

Speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950, Mike Rogers of the Wayne County Road Commission, addressed claims that they're just not doing enough to make the roads better.

"We were there, we were there. And I ride with our drivers, so I've seen situations where we have been out, we've plowed -- and then, because of the snowdrifts that came in, it looked like we hadn't done anything," he said.

Rogers said that they have an adequate amount of salt, but they're dealing with a 40-percent drop in staffing since 2007. 

Meantime Craig Bryson, of the Oakland County Road Commission said the roads in his neck of the woods are a re-freeze nightmare.

"This was not an easy storm to deal with. This was one of the most challenging weather conditions," Bryson said.
"You know, it started out on the thirties and we ended up in the single digits for several nights in a row now, and that's extremely difficult to deal with," he said.

Bryson says Oakland County is operating with 100 fewer drivers than this time last year.

For the latest from the roads anytime, tune to WWJ Newsradio 950 during Traffic and Weather on the 8s, 24 hours a day.

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