Snow snarls morning commute, causes several highway crashes in Ann Arbor area
Owner Darlene Strasburg shovels the sidewalk this morning in front of Metamorphosis Hair Salon at 121 E. Liberty St. in downtown Ann Arbor. "I love it," Strasburg said of the snow. "It's Michigan. That's why they call it winter."
Steve Pepple | AnnArbor.com
Conditions had improved markedly by 7:30 a.m. though, and a Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department dispatcher said all crashes had been cleared from area freeways. Jim Harmon, operations director with the Washtenaw County Road Commission said freeways and ramps have mostly been plowed and salted, though they are wet and there may be some slick spots.
That fact does not end the need for caution, he said. "We've had a mild winter event and motorists need to be advised to slow down and drive according to conditions."
Dave Gurney, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township said the snow is likely over in the Ann Arbor area. The temperature will rise above freezing, so any snow accumulation is likely to melt. The high is expected to reach 36. Only about a half-inch to an inch is on the ground this morning, he said.
But more snow and cold is on the way, according the the weather forecast. While the high Saturday will be in the mid to high 30s, temperatures will begin to drop after that. Gurney said a storm system will move into the area late Saturday night, bringing rain or rain and snow. It will change over to snow Sunday and very cold air will move into the area, dropping low temperatures overnight Sunday and Monday to 10 degrees or lower. The high on Monday will not likely climb above 15, Gurney said.
When the snow comes, road crews will be ready, Harmon said. Trucks will be loaded with salt and Road Commission staff will be monitoring the road conditions and the forecast, he said.
Comments
Steve Pepple
Mon, Dec 13, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.
A comment has been removed because of name calling. Please make your points without making degrading comments about other people.
Soothslayer
Sat, Dec 11, 2010 : 7:21 a.m.
You are responsible for the actions of your own vehicle. If the conditions are horrible you MUST adjust accordingly & not take anything for granted. Every year we get a ton of import drivers from other states and countries that have never seen winter let alone driving on the right side. Combine this with drivers not keeping appropriate speeds and safe distances when driving under unknown conditions and it spells disaster. Bottom line is unless your vehicle was pushed into an accident situation or you were hit by another driver if you crash you are at fault. Every day could be an ice rink on the roads and it would STILL be your fault for crashing so stop trying to blame others. Salt is bad for roads, vehicles and the environment. The rest of the world doesnt use it and the only reason we do is because we lived on a salt mine so please only use it sparingly!
bruno_uno
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 10:41 p.m.
highway roads were not plowed this morning, truth is out and no comment should argue this comment that our health,safety, and welfare is at risk due to unions strangle hold on our budgets.
AAJoker
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:52 p.m.
I commuted through Ann Arbor and 30 minutes on the highway this morning and the only problem I had was people going too slow because they are scared of having anything but dry roads. If you can't handle driving with some snow on the road, please remove yourself and your whiny attitude from Michigan and let the rest of us commute! I personally wish the road crew would neither salt or plow as truthfully the only time we get enough snow to matter is once or twice a year, other than that our tax dollars are being wasted because people cannot/will not learn to drive.
Professor
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:44 p.m.
Back in the day I lived in Minot (North D) and after a snow storm finding your car was an adventure because they were all big snow lumps. Ann Arbor has no idea what places like Minot endure. BUT, the good thing is that people knew how to drive in the snow and they expected nothing else -they knew the roads would be snow covered and icy. No complaints, No crazy drivers (or very few). It just worked.
ALBATROSS
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 6:09 p.m.
I've lived in a lot of cities in Michigan, but I have never been around so many needy, bitchy people. It's snow it happens if you can't drive in it take the bus and leave the driving to those of us who don't need our hand's held. I drove in it all day as my job requires and it was fun, had no problems except getting around those of you who go dangerously slow. Your city doesn't have the money to plow when there is only an 1" of snow.
ALBATROSS
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 6:09 p.m.
I've lived in a lot of cities in Michigan, but I have never been around so many needy, bitchy people. It's snow it happens if you can't drive in it take the bus and leave the driving to those of us who don't need our hand's held. I drove in it all day as my job requires and it was fun, had no problems except getting around those of you who go dangerously slow. Your city doesn't have the money to plow when there is only an 1" of snow.
sbbuilder
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 3:21 p.m.
What I really think we need are a few dozen "Traffic Calming" speed bumps installed on the highways.
a2phiggy
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 2:58 p.m.
So homeowners are accountable to individuals and the City of Ann Arbor for improper maintenance of their sidewalks, but the City has no obligation for proper maintenance of the roads? Please, oh please, help me understand. Let's authorize $300 for a plane ticket for the mayor to visit Minneapolis after a hard snowfall so he can see how safe streets are achieved - the same amount of money spent now needs to instead be put into more effective and efficient strategies to make our streets much, much safer than they are today - and this was only a dusting. Ridiculous.
Joseph
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
@Drewk, I believe most of the complaints here are due to a lack of salt not lack of plowing. Ice can be worse to drive on then snow 'ya know.
drewk
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.
Come on people. An inch of snow and you want the plow trucks out. Try learning to drive. It's not that hard. If you were slipping and sliding then you were trying to stop too fast and/or were drioving too fast for the conditions.
Joseph
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 2:37 p.m.
jeez, what are we going to do when winter really hits? Thank goodness I work from home.
Killroy
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 12:33 p.m.
Wah, wah, all I hear is complaining and freak outs. It is Michigan folks! It snows and it gets cold. Don't like it? Move, but stop complaining! A few pointers: 1. Drive an all wheel drive vehicle with ABS brakes. 2. Drive like your grandmother is about to walk right in front of your car. 3. Clean your car prior to departing or park in the garage.
Vivienne Armentrout
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
Maybe AnnArbor.com staff can clarify this. It was my impression that the city has gone over to using sand, not salt, on city streets. Also, last year the Washtenaw County Road Commission announced that they were restricting their snow removal services because of deficits in state transportation funding. (They are paid through the gas tax, and collections have been falling.) This is a great opportunity for a story reviewing all the current policies and practices in place.
bg
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.
I am tired of the city's "do as I say, not as I do" policy for snow removal. The city's website states they will not start plowing until at least 4 inches of snow has fallen, yet we are expected to shovel our sidewalks at the lightest dusting of snow. So the sidewalks are safe but you take your life into your hands when you attempt to cross the street.
lugemachine
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:30 a.m.
When I first moved here from Massachusetts, I was shocked to see that they use 100% salt on the roads. How about a 50/50 mix of sand and salt? The roads need a bit of a shoulder-cleaning in the spring, but the sand works astonishingly well in providing tires purchase in slippery conditions. It's plentiful and it's cheap as.. well, cheap as dirt.
Cash
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:15 a.m.
bhall, And to continue your thought to it's obvious conclusion, expect your insurance rates to quadruple. Expect roads to be closed with every snow. This will be required to reduce the liability for county, state and federal road conditions. People will be unable to get to work and lose their jobs. Economy looks good now compared to a state with impassable roads. People will die on the roads (perhaps someone you know) because EMS will be unable to get to them to save them. Etc etc. Great plan.
bhall
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.
I don't believe snow plowing and salting is a necessary service. This will melt. I don't want big government coming down my road to spend my tax money on something I don't use. Guess how I got to work today? I walked. All that road maintenance didn't do anything for me. I would like to see a measure on the ballot to repeal the department of public works. It's called personal responsiblity. Let's get government out of our lives! Wake up sheeple!
CincoDeMayo
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 10:58 a.m.
Firefighters DO plow snow - when they are OFF duty - in order to make ends meet! Really - are the roads that bad? If they are slippery, slow down. I always wonder why we plow for a touch of snow - save the plows for the big stuff. Drive carefully.
Lynn S
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.
Are most of you new to Michigan? I moved from the Ann Arbor area over a year ago, and the last two years I lived in Michigan (2007 - November 2009) it was announced that plowing and salting were being reduced due to budget constraints at ALL government levels. I guess this must be the first decent snow if everyone has forgotten this so quickly since I doubt that the revenue stream has vastly improved since I left the state.
81wolverine
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 10:55 a.m.
@bhall: What are you talking about? Plowing and salting roads is a basic government service that we are paying taxes to be provided. It's a critical service from a safety point of view that has nothing to do with any lack of "personal responsibility". Besides, who else is going to do it other than the local government? Get real. I've seen a steady decline in the level of winter snow removal service in Ann Arbor over the last 18 years or so. It's gotten to the point where the roads are often unsafe - and I'd guess some people have died because of it. I'd much rather the City put money into this than the millions they've spent on public art and more parking garages.
Yooper
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.
The plowing/salting is a joke. A couple years ago I saw a plow truck FOLLOWING a salt truck on Carpenter. Brilliant, plow the salt OFF of the road. It amuses me that when you call the Washtenaw Co. Road Comm. they automated phone system gives you an option "if there is an emergency". Seriously, they can barely "maintain" the roads, I shudder to think what they would do in a real emergency.
Atticus F.
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 9:20 a.m.
Yay, Bailey's and coffee time!!!
Hillbillydeluxe
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.
that second paragraph is spoken like the truth1 (cash)
ypsidog
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.
Seriously, you want Police and Firefighters to stop what they are doing to drive plow trucks?? I think I'll take my chances the way things are, you must be kidding me!!!! the dog
Hillbillydeluxe
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 9:14 a.m.
When people put others personal safety on par with there own then, that's when they will leave the house a half hour earlier then normal to get to work.
Cash
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 9:13 a.m.
Yes, how dare the employees that keep the roads clear ask for a living wage! Let's fix that! But lets turn our heads to the County commissioners outrageous expense accounts...and elect one of them to an even higher office! Let's keep the middle class workers in their place while we turn our heads to the wastefulness in the upper class of government jobs. Oh brother.
Sallyxyz
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
Jim Harmon needs to drive on the city streets. Maybe the highways were clear at 7:30 this morning, but the city streets were NOT clear at 7:30 am. These streets were a disaster. How many plows and salt trucks does the county own? Today's winter event was mild, as the article says, but the snow removal was totally inadequate in the city this morning.
Sallyxyz
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.
I just drove at 7:30 this morning along Fuller, Huron and N. Maple, all emergency routes and the streets were horrendous. Everyone was slipping and sliding at every intersection. Roadways and streets were clearly not plowed at all, nor was there any salt. In my half hour from Fuller to Maple, I didn't see any plows or salt trucks at all. Where are the salt trucks? Where are the plows??? It had stopped snowing an hour earlier in town. If this is what is coming this winter, I'm fearful about going anywhere this winter! Snow removal and maintenance is not the place for budget cuts!
Bob
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
Maybe the purpose of the local government is to protect us from ourselves?
bhall
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:27 a.m.
Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Why do we need a nanny state to plow and salt the roads for us. That's just stupid. I'm sick of the people on this site clamoring for more big government! People, figure out how to drive and keep the government out of our lives!
Bob
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:14 a.m.
This is really understandable - I mean, it's never snowed here before...
Pilgrim
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:06 a.m.
Yes--there's so much that needs to be done to fix the road conditions. But in the meantime, people can "chill", slow down, and be mindful of others as well as ourselves wnen we're on the road.
pbehjatnia
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:01 a.m.
Once again the city and the county have failed to make driving as safe as possible in a timely manner - despite hearing for several days that it would snow. Seriously?
sh1
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 7:46 a.m.
Where is the proof that this is the fault of unions? Unions created the middle class in our country. Get rid of them, and you'll see even a larger gap between rich and poor. Someone drank the Limbaugh Kool-Aid.
InsideTheHall
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 7:23 a.m.
Bruno is spot on. If police and firemen were cross trained to operate plows things would improve significantly and safety enhanced.
Davidian
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 7:18 a.m.
We get an inch of snow and there's gridlock. Please MDOT--we live on one of the biggest salt deposits in the world. Your claims of salt shortages ring a little hollow.
bruno_uno
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 7:08 a.m.
horrific driving conditions this morning all heading on US 23 and M 14, thank you UNIONS for your mafia style grip on our public services so that we need to put at risk the publics health and safety. If we had no UNIONS, these services could be provided through private contracts but you will never let go of your grip.
spm
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 6:52 a.m.
Just went out and it's slick out there right now. Went down Miller and 7th and Liberty and no plow or salt truck in sight. Only plow trucks I saw were private contractors plowing their customer's driveways. I drive a Subaru and my ABS kicked in more than once while trying to stop even though I wasn't going fast whatsoever. Be careful out there.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 6:44 a.m.
oh boy...guess i'ma stay in the house sunday morning. sunday services at my house. we'll be getting another couple inches saturday night/early sunday morning.
Sallyxyz
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 6:39 a.m.
People need to slow down. Period. And the road crews need to use SALT. I've lived in other states with real snow (Minnesota, upstate NY), and I've never seen such bad road conditions in winter as I have in A2 over the last 15 years, and there is far less snow here than in Minneapolis, MN, and Buffalo and Rochester, NY. They simply refuse to use salt here appropriately! Enough PC! People's lives are at stake, not to mention all the fender benders that could be avoided with more salting, pre-salting when storms are coming, and more plowing when the snow comes. I live on an emergency route between 2 hospitals (UM and VA), and I can tell you that there was minimal plowing around here when the snow was heavy last winter. Where were the snow plows? I dread the winter, not for the snow itself, but for the lack of plowing and salting.