Southfield (WWJ) -- Area road crews are prepared for a couple of long days as the first major winter storm of the year hits southeast Michigan.
In Oakland and Washtenaw counties, workers had sprayed critical roads with liquid brine, which is an "anti-icing" tactic that coats the road and helps limit ice on the roads.
106 trucks were expected to be on the roads across Oakland County. They would be on the "critical roads" first and were expected to remain out until the evening rush hour, according to Road Commission for Oakland County spokesman Craig Bryson.
Bryson says because trucks can't be very productive in rush hour traffic, some crews will probably be sent home and then return around midnight.
Commission rules call for drivers to work up to 16 hours before they must take a 5.5 hour break.
The Wayne County Department of Public Services Roads Division has 124 trucks loaded with salt and was ready to go Tuesday morning.
WIth the bulk of the snow expected Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, Washtenaw County's day crews are expected to work into the evening and then return around 4 a.m. to continue plowing.
In Macomb County, Bob Mykytiak, Road Division Superintendent, says it takes up to four hours for crews to make a complete pass of all the county roads. He says truck drivers will likely be split up so they can have some trucks on the roads at all times.
Howard Penrod of the Monroe County Roads says trucks will be out salting, but he warns that when it snows heavily for a long period of time it takes a long time to get the roads cleared.
"If we get the kind of snow they're forecasting...it's going to be a mess this afternoon and we'll be out there, but people going home tonight need to take extra caution because it's not going to be good."
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