Reality is ready to strike today.
Area road crews are bracing for a winter blast that could
deliver upwards of six inches of snow and high winds to the
region.
“This looks like a quick hit,” National Weather Service
Meteorologist John LaCorte said Wednesday from the agency’s Penn
State Bureau. “Temperatures will look to moderate next week, with
highs in the 40s called for by the end of the weekend.”
LaCorte said the lake effect snow will travel through the region
today, leaving behind 2 to 4 inches in McKean County, with possible
higher amounts in neighboring locations.
“It’s really hit and miss with lake effect snow showers,”
LaCorte said. “Some areas will receive higher amounts than
others.”
A Lake Effect Snow Watch is in effect for neighboring Warren
County, according to LaCorte.
“The closer to the lake you go, the chances for more snow is
greater,” LaCorte said. “This really is more typical of the winter
weather you are used to seeing up there.”
As a result of the forecast, road crews across the region are
shining up the plows and loading the salt spreaders in anticipation
of several hours’ work.
“We’re set to go,” Patricia Shinaberger, maintenance director
for the local Pennsylvania Department of Transportation district,
said. “The guys are anxious to get going.”
According to PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator Marla
Fannin, crews will be out on several of the major highways across
the region prior to the snowy weather to pre-treat the
surfaces.
“A salt-brine solution (essentially water and salt) will be
applied the roadways,” Fannin said. “It needs to be done at certain
temperatures and doesn’t work when it gets too cold. It’s typically
not as effective under 18 degrees.”
Fannin said the salt-brine mixture prevents ice from forming a
bond to the road.
“It lessens the chance for the roads to ice up,” Fannin said.
“With this, in many cases, the crews don’t have to do as much
treatment throughout the storm.”
However, in the case of a heavy snowfall, Fannin said the trucks
plowing will take a large portion of the mixture from the surface
of the highway.
Shinaberger said while local crews will be focusing on the U.S.
Route 219 Bradford bypass, they won’t be doing any anti-icing for
this storm.
“We don’t pre-treat all the time up here,” Shinaberger said.
The Bradford bypass has been particularly worrisome for local
motorists, which have been confronted with traffic delays
throughout the construction zone during the nearly year-long
project.
PennDOT officials have said they are prepared to be able to
clear the bypass if a winter storm hits, including using a snow
blower and adding a sixth truck and operator to Bradford to mainly
take care of the highway.
The Jersey barriers will remain in place during the winter
months, officials said.
Local emergency responders and municipal officials said plans
are in place in the event of an emergency on the bypass. Bradford
City Police have also said they are willing to shut down the span
to traffic if necessary.
In addition to Route 219 – which will be watched from Bradford
to Johnsonburg and beyond – Route 255 in Elk County will also be a
focal area, as well as numerous other major thoroughfares.
Meanwhile, Foster Township Road Foreman Joe Sweet said his crews
are ready to hit the streets, if needed.
“We’ll be ready to go if we need to,” Sweet said.
Last week, Bradford Department of Public Works Foreman Gary
Alcock said city street crews are ready to handle winter’s worst,
adding there should not be a problem if vehicles are diverted from
the bypass onto city streets.
According to The Associated Press, occasional snow showers will
continue through tonight and Friday morning. Highs both days are
slated to top off in the upper 20s.
