Ocean County officials say the County stands ready to meet all its winter weather needs.
“Ocean County is prepared to handle winter weather whether it be snow, ice, a wintry mix or storms,” said the incoming Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners John P. Kelly. “Our County departments work in partnership to assure safety on our roads and continued accessibility to our programs and services.”
According to Ocean County Road Supervisor Arthur Reece, there is plenty of brine and pretreated salt on hand to get roads cleared in case of a snowstorm. And plow trucks are at the ready should they be needed.
“We have already seen three weather events where we salted and brined our roads at the end of 2024,” Reece said.
The Ocean County Road Department and Bridge Departments can mobilize a fleet of about 200 pieces of equipment for snow removal.
Prior to the winter months, road department crews spend their time readying salt spreaders and making sure enough plows are attached to trucks.
When temperatures drop and rain is not part of the forecast, snow clearing usually first entails brining the 1,600 plus lane miles of county roads by spreading a mixture of road salt and water.
“With the largest County road network in the state, brine is a cost-effective way of keeping snow from piling up on the roads,” Kelly said. “Coating the road surface with brine before the snow starts falling makes it easier to plow later.”
The county mixes brine at three 10,000-gallon tanks located at garages in Plumsted, Toms River and Stafford townships. There is about 25,000 gallons of brine solution available for any upcoming winter weather events.
“Brine is an excellent option for storms where forecasts call for the precipitation to begin as snow, it doesn’t work for storms that begin as rain and later change to snow,” Reece said. “The rain can wash it away very quickly.”
The county is also prepared with more than 30,000 tons of treated salt. The county uses salt treated with calcium chloride which does a better job when clearing snow and ice.
If enough snow falls to warrant plowing, the first of the county roads to be cleared are the 500 series, which includes such main roads as Hooper Avenue in Toms River Township, and Route 571, which travels through Toms River Township to Jackson Township. In Southern Ocean County, those roads include Route 539.
“We start with these main roads and work our way to the secondary roads,” Reece said.
The Ocean County Road Department is also responsible for clearing all the county parking lots including the vocational-technical centers, the resource centers, Transportation Department, and libraries.
The Road Department is assisted by other county departments including Solid Waste Management, Buildings and Grounds and Parks and Recreation.
“It’s a cooperative effort on the part of the County to make certain our residents are safe,” Kelly said. “The cooperation makes for a much smoother and efficient operation.”
The Ocean County Department of Buildings and Grounds is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the County’s 135 government buildings.
“Getting areas around our buildings shoveled and salted allows us to continue to provide services to our citizens while keeping the staff safe,” Kelly said.
Weather in Ocean County differs from one area to the next.
“Coastal areas tend to have rain because of warmer ocean temperatures,” Reece said. “Inland we will see more snow especially to the northwest like Jackson and Plumsted townships.
“We watch the weather closely because it’s always changing and we need to know what our approach will be,” he said. “We are really in good shape for winter.”
Reece also offers some advice for citizens and motorists when it comes to winter weather that drops snow and ice.
“Please do not crowd the plow trucks while they are working due to frequent stops and if possible avoid travel until snow removal is complete,” he suggested. “And, if possible, please do not park vehicles on roadways while snow plowing is underway.”
“So long as we can work together the snow removal operations will go smoothly,” Kelly said. “The safety of our motorists is a priority.”
The post Ocean County Ready For Winter Weather appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.