Routes and Policies
During the winter months the Road Commission, working in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation, has a night patrol to ensure road conditions are monitored and crews dispatched as needed. Snow removal is performed on a priority basis. The approximate 110 miles of State Trunkline are plowed first, followed by 180 miles of County primary roads and 525 miles of local paved roads and local gravel roads.
Two big challenges for a road agency are a heavy snowstorm that starts just before rush hour and a storm that continues for several days without letting up. In the first case, traffic slows to a crawl and the trucks can only move with the traffic. In the second case, the trucks must stay out on the main roads to keep them open for emergency vehicles and are delayed getting into subdivisions and gravel roads. Salt is not effective on gravel roads, so it is used primarily on paved roads, and sand is used on gravel roads. Please note that salt begins to lose its efficacy on paved roads when the temperature drops below 20 degrees.
The Crawford County Road Commission does not have a “bare road” policy. We maintain over 815 miles of county and state roads. Unpredictable weather conditions and limited financial resources make it impossible to maintain a bare road policy, our goal is to provide the best possible service for all of the traveling public in Crawford County. We encourage you to drive defensively and at speeds in accordance with road conditions.
Driveways
Be sure to place snow to the right of your driveway as you face the road so plows will push it away from, rather than back into, the driveway entrance. That said, a reasonable amount of snow will always find its way back into your driveway. As the plow comes through, some snow will accumulate on the plow blade and deposit into the first open space that comes along. More often than not that space is a driveway. Contrary to popular opinion, we cannot lift the plow at driveways, swerve away from driveways or put all the snow across the road from driveways. In the instance that your driveway is re-packed with the snow we will not re-plow your driveway as this is a seasonal hazard that is impossible to completely avoid.
Damage to Mailboxes and Posts
In most cases, damage occurs during the plowing process because aged posts are unable to withstand the force of heavy snow hitting them. Generally, mailboxes and posts in good condition can withstand the force of snow plowed against them. For more information visit our mailbox policy page.
Snow Plow Safety
- Warn children about the dangers of being hit with snow coming off of a snowplow.
- Move rocks, trash bins/bags, reflectors, etc. away from the road and road shoulder.
- Often our snowplows back up while cleaning intersections. Please don’t tailgate. Drivers can’t see cars directly behind them, so leave space between you and the truck.
- Move your vehicles off roadsides.
- State Law prohibits depositing of snow , ice or slush onto any road or highway. Do not push snow across the road and deposit it in such a manner that it obstructs the safety or vision of a driver
- Snowmobiles are allowed on the right-of-way, but are not allowed on the traveled portion of the road. Do not block the right-of-way with chains, ropes, flags, etc. you are liable for items you place in the right-of-way, and will be asked to remove them.