Orange County highway departments are preparing for another round of winter weather, loading trucks, finalizing routes and staffing operations to keep roadways passable as snow moves in. Officials say the goal is to maintain access for emergency vehicles and stay ahead of changing conditions through the evening and overnight.

During the last significant snowfall, more than 200 crashes were reported countywide, roughly double what officials say they normally see. Leaders stress that the spike reflected how quickly conditions changed, not a lack of response from crews, and they’re asking drivers to give plows room to work as the storm arrives.

In Monroe, Deputy Highway Superintendent Bill Brown says crews are ready for extended hours once snow begins to accumulate. He says once trucks leave the yard, drivers may be out through the night to keep emergency routes open.

“We are probably not going to be getting out until tomorrow morning. Just keep going around and around to keep [roads] passable for emergency vehicles. Please stay home," says Brown.

Brown says snowfall rates are the biggest factor in how quickly routes can be cycled, especially when heavier bands move through. With 12 drivers covering 94 lane miles, he says some roads will appear snow-covered while plows are still active on their assigned loops. “When the snow starts falling at an inch plus an hour in short bursts, it’s just about impossible to keep up. As much as you try to stay ahead of it, sometimes you just can’t do it.”

County Highway Construction Superintendent Adrian DeWitt says temperatures will play a major role in how the material reacts on the pavement and how often trucks need to reload. He says crews will be out continuously.

“The temperatures are going to be cold. That’s a big factor," Dewitt says. "They’ll be loaded and headed out on their runs, come back to refuel, reload the truck, get something to eat and go back out."

DeWitt says snow-covered roads during snowfall are not a sign that plows aren’t working, but a reflection of active weather and reduced traction. He says keeping the county moving safely is the focus, not completely dry pavement during the storm.

“If you don’t have the right vehicle they get slippery," Dewitt says. "Even these big trucks slide. Our main goal is to keep it open for emergency vehicles to get through.”

Officials say the best way to support highway crews is to avoid unnecessary travel, move over for plows, and keep parked cars off the street during operations. Dewitt says public cooperation helps crews finish faster and get roads back to normal.

“Let us do our job so that you can go about your day tomorrow like it never even happened."