Politics & Government

Roadway Snow Piles are Going, Going, Almost Gone

Royal Oak anticipates final clearing of downtown snow medians by midnight.

Royal Oak employees moved into the final phase of the city's street clearing plan Friday morning, removing snow medians piled up in the downtown.

As of early Friday morning, the downtown part of Main Street was clear and crews were removing piles of snow plowed to the middle of East Fifth Street, north of Lincoln Avenue at 9 a.m. All of the snow is then transported by a rotating shift of dump trucks to city-owned property at 10 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. It is hard to miss the snow mounds as the piles tower on the property, just east of the Detroit Zoo.

"It will be gone sometime in April," quipped Greg Rassel, director of the city's  Department of Public Service.

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Royal Oak received about 6 inches of snow Wednesday – a far cry from the 10-15 inches predicted, which Rassel said would have made their job much more difficult.

The Department of Public Service operated on two shifts throughout the removal process. The first crew included 14 trucks and drivers, which was relieved by a second crew of 15. Rassel said both crews were hampered by seven water main breaks since Tuesday night, which diverted employees from snow removal to repair the mains. The crews operate on a three-priority plan beginning with major roadways, side streets and then removal of snow medians throughout the downtown.

Find out what's happening in Royal Oakwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rassel said all snow pushed into the streets should be complete by midnight and then the crew will begin clearing parking lots Monday morning.


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