[Cliffie]

I don't need to tell anyone that this has been one of the most brutal winters ever -- snow almost daily, usually lots of it, and bitter cold week after week.

My question is: is it just me, or are there NO salt/gravel trucks out there to help us out? I have only spotted two all winter, and the condition of the roads sure seems to bear me out. Somebody told me there's a salt shortage, but I suspect a money shortage that's keeping the trucks off the road. Am I correct? What gives?

[Bydand]

don't know for sure, but Mason County has sucked harder than usual for snow removal as well. They are usually bad, but this winter they have been useless. I also heard there was a salt shortage.

[Cliffie]

I actually had to get out there with a hammer and chisel to get rid of the Ice Alps across my front stoop. The salt doesn't touch it because where the icicles drip it's almost vertical.

[wanderer74]

I've heard that a lot of cities are over budget on the plowing and salting expenses due to the amount of snow and cold we've had. On average I'm having to wait 2-3 days for them to plow my neighborhood after a big snowfall and have gotten stuck in the snow more than once already this year.

[Peter B]

Thank God for no salt!! Lot's easier on the vehicles and encourages the idiots to slow down a bit. Not to mention better for the environment. Now if we can only get them to stop putting sand down. People should make sure they have good and or snow tires on their vehicles. Most do not and then they cry when the roads aren't clear down to the pavement.

[chance2jump]

The reports that I've heard were budget woes for local and state gov't bodies were causing a huge reduction in snow / ice removal and salting. Same thing last year. I cam up in Feb and only the intersections of major roads were salted around Lansing/EL because of budget issues. It was slick as s***. I would hate to be paying MI car insurance soon... Ins companies will eventually start raising the rates at some point to compensate for the increase of accidents due to the lack of road maintenance.

[Cliffie]

Not to mention the potholes, which are bad enough to lose an SUV in this year.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Not to mention the potholes, which are bad enough to lose an SUV in this year.

It is going to be a bad year for the roads. The frost is deep.

[Peter B]

Originally Posted by Driller1

It is going to be a bad year for the roads. The frost is deep.

Would you surmise it's deeper than 2' throughout Northern Michigan?? I ask because there are some serious frost heaves on many roads throughout Leelanau and GT Counties.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Peter B

Would you surmise it's deeper than 2' throughout Northern Michigan?? I ask because there are some serious frost heaves on many roads throughout Leelanau and GT Counties.

No, not here at least. Maybe 18". Gladwin county.