Allegheny County preps for winter storm, offers online info for reporting problem roads

Allegheny County plans to have 32 trucks on the road to deal with snow, ice and freezing rain that is expected to hit the region by early Thursday, the county’s Department of Public Works said Wednesday.

The National Weather Service in Moon issued an advisory calling for at least 3 inches of snow and sleet for the Pittsburgh metro area from about 1 a.m. Thursday until 10 a.m. Friday.

Ice accumulation of about a quarter-inch also is possible, creating a potential for hazardous driving conditions, power outages and tree damage, according to the weather service.

Public Works said in a news release that it will deploy its trucks when the storm arrives with expected freezing rain and “will provide continual coverage until the precipitation stops and county-maintained roads are clear.

“Pretreating our roads is not an option during this storm because the rain that falls before the temperature drops would wash away any salt that we place,” the department said.

The county said it normally takes one to two hours for its salt trucks to complete a route, reload with salt and return to the road, so snow and ice accumulation on county roads should be expected at times during the storm.

The county recommends that residents stay home, if possible, when roads are slick. Motorists who venture out are advised to slow down, avoid sudden stops and turns and allow extra space when following another vehicle.

A page on the county’s website allows motorists to check which entity is responsible for salting and plowing a specific road in the county. The site offers phone numbers to call if there is an issue with ice or snow removal.