Recently, I had the opportunity to ride with one of the snowplow operators from the Laramie County Public Works Department. I genuinely believe these are some of the unsung heroes of our community. They arrive at the Public Works Department in the wee hours to ensure the citizens of Laramie County can safely travel the roads during inclement weather.
I arrived at Public Works around 3 a.m., and we were on the road by 3:30 a.m.Each operator is assigned a specific route, split into categories according to their importance to public safety. More information related to the snow control policies can be found on the Laramie County a public works website under snow and ice control policy.
Although the Snow accumulations were minor in this last bout of weather, I learned a great deal from my experience. One surprising revelation was that Public Works uses salt/sand on the road sparingly.
One would believe that using this material on the roadways would be beneficial for traction. However, I was educated that if the wind is blowing the snow off the road, adding material to the surface attracts more snow to stick on the roadway, causing undesirable road conditions. If salt/sand is not strategically spread on the roadway, it can create a surface that catches the snow as it blows across it, causing it to accumulate instead of just blowing off.
So the next time you pass a snowplow on the roads in Laramie County, give these dedicated public servants a friendly wave of thanks for all they do for your safety.
Thank you, Asa, for your thorough and enlightening tour and for putting up with me.