When my grandfather passed away almost eight years ago, I went to hell and back.
In March of 1998 the Great Lakes area was hammered with one of the most vicious snowstorms I can ever remember so late in the winter months. The inches accumulated fast and heavy, leaving motorists stranded on I-94.
Since the storm intruded a full day before our departure, we thought all major roads would be clear. They were—to a point. That point came as we were entering Indiana. There, I-94 was still a steel cattle-holding pen. We decided to take a detour on a state route, which turned out to be our gate to hell. Traffic speed often struggled lifting the speedometer bar, and after moving a total of two miles in an hour we decided to take a second detour. This became affectionately known as the backdoor to hell. The roads were covered in at least 9 in. of snow and ice. We eventually made it, but the usual 51?2-hour trip had flared to 14 hours.
There was very little snow crews could do during that red-eyed day in March. They were already exhausted, and equipment and supplies were stretched to the limit.
So far the state of Illinois has had a couple of significant snowstorms this winter. But the response to the white coverings—very manageable by Midwest standards—reeked of southern-fried failures usually reserved for Texas or Alabama. I’m not trying to fault anyone below the Ohio River. Snow accumulations in Texas or Alabama usually happen maybe once every two years. They are supposed to struggle with a couple of inches of powder, because they simply do not have the winter maintenance budget to battle such an event. However, I do not expect a Texas or Alabama response right outside of Chicago. When the snow falls, the streets should be cleared within 12 hours.
When we were hit leading up to Christmas the Illinois Department of Transportation, along with all the other agencies at the county and city level, claimed bad timing. Much of the accumulation happened during rush hour. If traffic isn’t moving, then the plows aren’t moving. Fair enough, and even though the roads were rough during the next day’s morning commute I was willing to give officials a pass.
Then Jan. 20 came, and this time the snow began piling up after most were home for the evening. Still, the next morning I was struggling with my four-wheel-drive.
Tell me, in an age of GPS systems, pavement temperature sensors, anti-icing and deicing, how can spots around the Chicagoland area serve as a disgrace to all snowplowing efforts? The very first conference I attended as a Roads & Bridges editor was the North American Snow Conference up in Duluth, Minn. I have always been impressed with the forward thinking of winter maintenance operations. Today we can track exactly where plows are and how much material they have used and use spray systems on our bridges to prevent ice buildup.
One begins to wonder if any of it is truly sticking. Are winter maintenance operations being neglected because local funding has been frozen? Are officials simply unwilling to complicate what may be viewed as a basic function? What I do know is this: Mayors have lost elections when they have failed with the flakes around here. I’m about ready to call a death march, and I’ll be sure to strap on the snow boots.
