Snow plows loaded with salt are ready on Nov. 20 at the Kane County Department of Transportation headquarters in Campton Hills.
Sandy Bressner/Shaw Local News Network
The first flakes have already fallen on Kane County, but plow teams have been prepped and ready to go for weeks.
Kane County Division of Transportation Superintendent Mike Way and his crew have been ready for snow since the middle of October. Kane County DOT is responsible for roughly 800 miles of roadway throughout the county, from Jericho Road in Aurora on the southern end to Big Timber Road north of Elgin.
To prepare for the first snowfall, Way had a fleet of 25 trucks loaded with salt inside a facility in Campton Hills.
Drivers have already run practice routes and trucks have been serviced and inspected in preparation for the season. Way said the only thing left to do is finish putting up snow fencing to help prevent drifting in rural areas.
Each year, the Kane County DOT uses an average of roughly 8,000 tons of salt.
Thanks to lighter winters in recent years, Way said they have maintained a healthy supply of salt, with about 15,000 tons of salt currently on hand.
New technology is being used to track conditions. Way says it will help road crews be better prepared, make better decisions, cut down response time, and be more efficient with their routes and materials used.
Campton Township Highway Commissioner Sam Gallucci said his department also is prepped and ready for winter.
The township’s fleet of 12 plows is ready to keep the 137 miles of roadway they cover in unincorporated Kane County and the village of Campton Hills clear.
Gallucci said his department treats roads with a mixture of salt and Beet Heet, a substance derived from beet juice, rather than calcium chloride like most departments. He said the beet-based concoction works better at sub-zero temperatures and is non-caustic, meaning it’s easier on the roads, doesn’t erode your car or shoes and won’t harm your pets’ paws.
“We mix it here at the shop, and that seems to work really well,” Gallucci said. “It melts the snow and ice a lot quicker. It works a whole lot better than calcium chloride at low temperatures, and it’s non-caustic.”
St. Charles Public Works Manager AJ Reineking said his department has been ready since Halloween, but they have been enjoying the warmer November.
St. Charles runs 17 trucks at a time, and Reineking said his department covers over 150 miles of roadway every year.
“St. Charles takes its snow program pretty seriously, and they keep us well-equipped to get the job done,” Reineking said. “With the opening of that First Street Plaza, the focus is going to be on pedestrian access and making sure the plaza is open, even during winter events.”
Reineking said last winter was so mild that they still have plenty of salt stock left over for this year.
“I’m hoping to provide the same service that people have always been able to expect in St. Charles,” Reineking said. “We’re on top of the weather and keeping an eye on it just like everyone else.”