County: We’re ready
for winter snowstorms
The Ocean County Road Department says it’s ready for whatever weather conditions nature drops on the area this winter.
The department has close to 10,000 tons of salt on hand and 30,000 gallons of liquid calcium. Last season, which included the Presidents Day storm, the county used about 23,000 tons of salt.
Winter storms in Ocean County can be very unpredictable, officials said. The inland area of the county may get hit with snow, while the coastal area may see more ice and flooding. Weather in the southern portion of the county may be nothing like what is happening in the northern areas.
Icing and freezing rain is often the more difficult elements to deal with in the winter. Joseph Jubert, general supervisor with the Ocean County Road Department, warned that under any driving conditions, motorists need to use caution also.
During a major snowstorm the road department has more than 100 trucks out including private contractors –– salting, sanding and plowing.
The first of the county roads to be plowed are known as the 500 series, which includes the main roads like Hooper Avenue in Dover Township, and Route 571 which travels through Dover Township to Jackson. In southern Ocean County, those roads include Route 539.
Jubert noted that the approach taken by the road department to clear the roads is based on what the weather has brought to the area.
"The worst case is when the bad weather starts as rain and changes over to ice or snow because of an abrupt drop in temperature," Jubert said. "This causes black ice and motorists don’t realize how dangerous this is."
When surfaces are coated with black ice, the county uses a mixture of salt and grit to melt some of the ice but more specifically to provide added traction for motorists.
The county has 65 trucks that can be used for salting and plowing and about 30 pieces of equipment that can be used just for plowing. Liquid calcium is sprayed on the salt from spray bars located at each of the county garages. The road department also finds itself removing sand from roads in beachfront communities during the many nor’easters that have made their way through the county.
Jubert said the county has not added miles to its road network but has added width, making plowing of widened roads like County Line Road in Jackson and Chambers Bridge Road in Brick a little more difficult because there are more lanes to handle.
In addition to plowing and snow removal of county roads, the department workers also salt, sand and plow in Plumsted Township and Seaside Heights under agreements with the county.
The department is also responsible for clearing all the county parking lots including the vocational-technical centers, the resource centers, Transportation Department, and libraries.