Macomb County Department of Roads ready for winter

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR) is gearing up for winter operations with the addition of new winter maintenance equipment this fall.

“Michigan’s unpredictable weather impacts our roads, residents and community. Road safety and winter readiness are top priorities for the department,” said MCDR Director Bryan Santo. “We work relentlessly to ensure our snow and ice removal operations maintain a drivable road system for all Macomb County motorists.”

MCDR’s goal is to keep the roads as safe as possible with the support of the motoring public. Drivers, who must remain alert during and immediately following winter weather, are strongly encouraged to drive for the conditions and to give snowplows plenty of room to safely clear the roads.

To meet the demand for the upcoming winter season, MCDR purchased several tandem axle, single axle and semi-trucks that will be delivered to Macomb County’s service centers in Washington Township, New Haven, Clinton Township and Shelby Township. MCDR has a winter maintenance fleet of more than 100 snowplows, salt trucks and graders. The department has an annual average budget of $4 million to keep the fleet on the road and up-to-date with technology and equipment.

This year, MCDR partnered with Switzer Elementary School and Utica Community Schools to paint one of the department’s snowplows ahead of the winter season. Fifth and sixth grade art students from Switzer Elementary submitted designs to paint the plow in the fall. The winning design was unveiled today by Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel; Bryan E. Santo, director of the Department of Roads; Dr. Christine M. Johns, superintendent of Utica Community Schools; and students from Switzer Elementary.

Fast Facts

• Of the more than 4,045 miles of roadway in Macomb County, MCDR is responsible for the maintenance of 1,773 miles of county roads and more than 1,100 miles of subdivision roads
• MCDR has 101 snowplows, salt trucks and graders in its fleet
• MCDR has 129 maintenance employees dedicated to keeping the roads clear
• On average, MCDR uses more than 57,000 tons of salt each winter
• In 2018, MCDR spent $8,624,909.93 on winter maintenance for primary, local and state roads

MCDR is dedicated to providing the public with a quality county road system, with a focus on safety and convenience for motorists and the community, environmental responsibility and financial accountability. For the latest news from the Department of Roads, follow MCDR on Facebook and sign up to receive email and text alerts for construction and traffic updates at roads.macombgov.org.

Photos of an MCDR front end loader and salt truck available here. Photo credit: Anne Nicolazzo. Photos of the snowplow painted by Switzer Elementary School students are available upon request.