Public Works Crews Mobilizing In Douglas County
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) - Douglas County is expected to be one of the hardest hit areas from Tuesday and Wednesday's storm.
Public Works crews began mobilizing Tuesday. The master-planned community has 96,000 residents. Many will have to get to work in the morning in what could be windy, icy, white-out conditions.
Keeping the roads open is no small job. A basic dump truck can quickly be converted into a snowplow sander.
"You get a technique down with two people; it's real easy," plow driver Bob Guerra said.
The secret is a fork lift. Spearing first, then removing -- and finally replacing.
More than a dozen big trucks were swapped out. They'll be teamed up with dozens of other dedicated plows and de-icers to battle the upcoming storm across Douglas County in Castle Rock, Parker, and especially Highlands Ranch.
With 600 lane miles in the community, fighting Old Man Winter takes a toll on the county's fleet.
William Larabee was repairing a truck's broken flashers.
"It's a common thing around here. They get wet, they get old, they get a lot of hours on them; they burn out," Larabee said.
With another approaching storm, the county can't afford to have a truck sitting on the sidelines.
"We have to get it done," Larabee said.
All told there are 18 plows and sanders ready to go in Highlands Ranch. Residents can do their part as well by not parking on the streets.
"Leave the streets open for us to plow," Public Works supervisor Wes Trueblood said. "You know we need room to plow the snow, so that's the biggest thing."
Some of the 18 trucks assigned to Highlands Ranch Wednesday will be held in reserve. They get rolled out if breakdowns occur or if the storm worsens.
Part-time drivers are recruited from the counties traffic and engineering departments.
