Fast-Falling Snow Slows Traffic In Metro Detroit

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Salt trucks and plows are out in full force as metro Detroit motorists work to navigate slick roads through quickly falling snow.

AccuWeather Meteorologist John Feerick said one to two inches was expected to fall in southeast Michigan Wednesday.

Craig Bryson, with the Road Commission for Oakland County, hoped it would be easier for his trucks to get through following a crowded morning commute.

"In place it's coming down pretty good right now...especially in the southwest part of the county and the southern part of the county (the roads) are covering pretty quickly,"  Bryson told WWJ, late in the morning.

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In neighboring Wayne County, Robert Conrad, Director of Roads, said they have 107 trucks that cover 99 different snow routes.

"It came down as a clipper here; it comes down pretty quick, so the roads are going to cover fairly quickly," Conrad said. "We don't start applying material to the road until we do have snowfall, because we do need the snow to react with the salt so the snow doesn't stick to the pavement."

After last year, Bryson said, his crews are prepared.

"Well, we're hoping not to have to deal with that again.  That obviously was a historic winter — the worst on record in southeast Michigan — but, you know, we are prepared," Bryson said.

"This is what we do in the winter time. Our drivers are on call 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, all winter long," he said. "We're appreciative that it hasn't been like that; but, you know, we are prepared if it does return to those types of conditions."

Reporting from Woodward Ave. in the Royal Oak area, WWJ's Mike Campbell said drivers seemed to be keeping their speeds down as snow fell off and on before noon.

Conrad wants to remind motorists to use caution and drive for the conditions.

"Give space between the vehicle in front of you. If you can't see cars three, four ahead of you because the snow's coming down so heavily, that's when people need to start slowing down and being able to stop in time," he said.

AccuWeather says the snowfall would likely taper off in the afternoon, with the next couple of days expected to be dry in metro Detroit.

For the latest from the roads, stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 during Traffic and Weather on the 8s, 24-hours a day.  Check live, local radar and the extended forecast HERE.