Changing weather conditions force Cincinnati snow plow drivers to constantly shift directions
Plows have covered more than 37,000 lane miles this week
Share
Updated: 5:56 PM EST Feb 18, 2021
Plows have covered more than 37,000 lane miles this week
Share
Updated: 5:56 PM EST Feb 18, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
SNOW PLOW DRIVERS IN CINCINNATI HAVE EACH SPENT AROUND 50 HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL THIS WEEK AND, LIKE THE SNOW, THOSE HOURS COULD KEEP PILING UP. >> IT’S BEEN AN ONGOING THING. WE HAVEN’T HAD A BREAK. DRIVERS HAVE PRETTY MUCH WORKED PROBABLY ALMOST EVERY DAY OVER THE PAST 3 TO FOUR WEEKS. SO IT’S BEEN A LONG GRIND FOR THEM. AND WE’LL CONTINUE THAT PROCESS TODD: SAEED SHAREEF OF CLIFTON APPRECIATES THE EFFORT. >> I’D SAY THEY’RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, CONSIDERING HOW MUCH SNOW AND ICE THAT WE’VE BEEN HIT WITH LATELY. BUT, YOU KNOW, STILL ANNOYING TO DEAL WITH IT. TODD: I TALKED TO SHAREEF NEXT TO UC’S CAMPUS IN CLIFTON. >> IT’S REALLY TOUGH. CLIFTON IS MOSTLY MADE OUT OF HILLS, SO STREETS LIKE RIDDLE AND STRAIGHT STREET AND EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND HERE IS JUST CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED WITH ICE AND SNOW, AND IT’S REALLY HARD TO TRAVEL AROUND IT TODD: THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF STREETS CITY SNOW PLOW DRIVERS WERE TRYING TO TACKLE WHEN A NEW ROUND OF SNOW STARTED FALLING JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. >> WE WERE ON RESIDENTIALS FOR A LOT OF THE EVENING, ALL THE WAY TO THE EARLY MORNING. ABOUT 1:00 A.M. ANOTHER BAND CAME THROUGH AND WE HAD TO PULL OUR TRUCKS AND GO BACK TO THE PRIMARY ROUTES BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MORNING COMMUTE WAS SAFE. TODD: BOLDEN SAYS ROAD CREWS GO WHERE MOTHER NATURE LEADS THEM. >> WE HAVE TO BE READY TO MOVE AT ANY GIVEN TIM NOTHING IS SET IN CONCRETE. SO, AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IF WE HAVE TO MOVE A TRUCK FOR AN EMERGENCY OR WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO. WE PREACH A FLEXIBLE OPERATION. SO, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST, BECAUSE THE WEATHER ADJUSTS, YOU KNOW. SO, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON THE FLY TODD: CINCINNATI ROAD CREWS RELY ON CONSTANT RADIO COMMUNICATION TO BE ABLE TO AS BOLDEN PUT IT MOVE ON THE FLY. SINCE SUNDAY THAT MOVEMENT HAS MEANT THE CITY’S 110 SNOW PLOW OPERATORS HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 37,000 MILES IN ALL EITHER PRE-TREATING ROADS OR TRYING TO PUSH SNOW OUT OF THE