Oakland Township's Main Roads Mostly Clear, Most Side Streets Unplowed

By 2 p.m. today, most of the main roads in Oakland Township were clear following last night's winter storm, which dumped up to 10 inches of snow in the area.

Orion Road was clear through the entire township, and Rochester and Adams roads were also relatively free of snow. The intersection of Adams and Silver Bell roads was slushy around 2 p.m. today; a small pickup truck was spotted spinning its wheels and slipping backward on northbound Adams.

The Road Commission for Oakland County had yet to visit most of the side streets and subdivisions in the township, however, so if you drive a smaller vehicle, you may be snowed in until your driveway and street are clear.

Even Collins Road in front of the township offices and Oakland County Sheriff's Office substation did not look like they had been plowed yet.

The problem, according to a press release from the RCOC this morning, is manpower. Or, more specifically, the lack of it.

The press release states that 84 drivers began plowing at 2 p.m. yesterday, and all 106 of the commission's trucks were plowing and salting by 11:30 p.m. The road commission devoted some of its resources to team-plowing the freeways to keep them clear, which "took the trucks off the main surface streets."

Because drivers can only work 16 hours at a time, many of the original drivers "have reached that point and must take a break." Although the commission called in many of its reserve drivers, it "no longer (has) the bodies to keep a full contingent of trucks on the roads for the second 16-hour phase of the storm."

Luckily, no more snow is expected this afternoon or evening, which will help the road commission catch up with plowing and salting once the first shift of drivers return to duty in the coming hours.

For Oakland Township residents, this means likely waiting until tonight or tomorrow before a plow reaches your street.

Do you have photos from the storm? Add them to this gallery.