DPW crews work to salt, clear roads in Milwaukee as We Energies crews watch for outages
MILWAUKEE -- A Snow Emergency was declared in Milwaukee County on Monday afternoon, December 28th as snow, sleet and freezing rain fell across southeastern Wisconsin.
As a result of that Snow Emergency, all non-essential departments were closed for the day. Those departments will reopen on Tuesday morning.
In addition to the snow, sleet and freezing rain, it was a windy day Monday -- with gusts at 40 to 50 miles-per-hour.
Winter storm in Milwaukee on Monday, December 28th
Roads were snow covered and slick -- especially once the snow turned into sleet on Monday afternoon.
Late Monday afternoon, Wisconsin DOT officials said there had been 322 traffic incidents statewide. That update was provided around 3:30 p.m.
Police and sheriff's deputies were busy dealing with crashes and spinouts.
Crashes led to freeway closures in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Ozaukee counties Monday afternoon.
This, as Department of Public Works crews worked to clear and salt roads.
Winter storm in Milwaukee on Monday, December 28th
We Energies officials were watching for power outages -- possible due to the freezing rain that could cover power lines in ice, and the high wind.
"It`s really a bad combination for the power lines when you see the ice buildup not only on the lines itself, but on trees and those tree limbs start coming down themselves and the winds pick up. It`s really a bad combination. Hopefully Mother Nature is kind to us and it doesn`t get as bad as some are forecasting -- but we are prepared and ready to respond as necessary," Cathy Schulze, We Energies spokeswoman said.
Winter storm in Milwaukee on Monday, December 28th
"I really don`t like the snow that much," Ernie Zazueta said.
Thankfully for Zazueta, he hasn't had to deal with it much this winter.
But on Monday, Zazueta found himself digging out in an effort to get to work -- gearing up for a tricky drive.
"The roads shouldn`t look like this. That's for sure," Zazueta said.
DPW officials had salt trucks out beginning early on Monday morning. They planned to have 228 salt and plow trucks out on the roads in Milwaukee by 5:00 p.m.
"We started out with 96 at 2:00 a.m. We started with the side streets and then moved to the mains. At 12:00 noon, we added 12 more salt trucks for a total of 108. We are concentrating on the main roads right now. We'll be out as long as it takes," DPW spokeswoman Sandy Rusch Walton said.
Department of Public Works crews began salting overnight and into Monday -- but didn't begin plowing until 2:00 p.m.
That's an interesting contrast from Milwaukee County's Highway Division. Crews started plowing at 10:00 a.m.
Officials with the DPW and Highway Division both say road conditions dictated their decision as to when to begin plowing.
DPW officials said Monday winter parking regulations in Milwaukee remain relaxed -- despite this winter storm.
Winter storm in Milwaukee on Monday, December 28th
Mayor Tom Barrett announced on December 22nd that DPW Parking Services ambassadors will use their discretion in issuing citations for winter parking regulation violations throughout the City of Milwaukee, due to the mild weather we are enjoying this December.
This consideration will last through Thursday, December 31.
Winter storm in Milwaukee on Monday, December 28th
CLICK HERE for more on winter in Milwaukee via the Milwaukee Department of Public Works.
CLICK HERE for the latest crash information via the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
CLICK HERE for interactive traffic maps via FOX6Now.com.
CLICK HERE to access the We Energies Outage Map.