Winter Storm to Hit Brighton Thursday Night

The City of Brighton prepares for snow removal.

Prepare yourself for snowy commutes Thursday evening and Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for parts of southeast Michigan, including Livingston County, beginning Thursday evening and lasting into Friday morning. Up to 4 inches of snow could fall Thursday night, with up to 3 more inches possible Friday morning, the forecasting agency warns. "Visibilities under one-quarter mile will be possible Thursday night," the NWS says. "Roads may become snow-covered and slippery, affecting the morning commute on Friday." The City of Brighton Department of Public Services has been busy inspecting all of its snow removal vehicles to make sure they are in good working order, fuel tanks are full, and salt is …

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MDOT Warns Motorists: 'Don't be Alarmed of New Tow Plow'

The new tow plow will be housed at the Brighton garage and used to clear I-96 and US-23 this winter.

If you happen to be driving down I-96 or US-23 and happen to see a rather large, orange Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) snow plow that looks like it's jack-knifing on ice, you shouldn't be alarmed - it's supposed to look that way. MDOT revealed its brand new snow plow, called a tow plow, at Island Lake Recreation Area on Friday. The tow plow can clear up to two full lane widths in one pass, doing the work of two trucks, saving MDOT both time and money. The tow plow cost MDOT $93,000, but is expected to pay for itself within five years. The service lifespan is also double that of the average snow plow, which costs around $200,000. In addition, the tow plow costs less to maintain.

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Livingston County First in State to Use New Snow Plow

The Tow Plow will be used on I-96 and US-23 starting this month.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin using a new type of snowplow called a Tow Plow - the first ever in Michigan - in Livingston County this month. The new plow will be used on I-96 and US-23 starting this month. The plow is a patented, tandem-style machine that is essentially a snowplow towed by a standard plow truck. The Tow Plow can plow widths up to 25 feet - up to two full lane widths in one pass. By using the Tow Plow, crews can clear both the travel lane and shoulder in one pass, reducing the time needed to clear the freeway during a winter storm event. This will improve service while reducing labor costs and fuel consumption on these busy roadways with high traffic volumes. When activated, the wheels of the …

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Nicole Krawcke

5:41 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Haha, Sharon! Yeah, it would have freaked me out a little without knowing it was supposed to look like that! We'll have more on the new plow next week after I attend a demonstration!   more ›

Michigan Blues: Take Care When Shoveling Snow

Keep heart health in mind and go slow as you remove snow from sidewalks and driveways.

With the first significant snowfall in metro Detroit making its appearance later in the season than usual, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network (BCN) recommend residents keep heart health in mind and go slow when clearing snow from driveways and sidewalks throughout the winter. Shoveling snow can be hard work. Clearing snow for 15 minutes qualifies as a moderate physical daily activity recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General. However, for many sedentary, out-of-shape Americans, shoveling heavy, wet snow for 10 minutes is equivalent to running on a treadmill to exhaustion. Studies show major snow storms are often associated with increased emergency room visits for everything from muscle aches to heart attacks, …

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MDOT Reminder: Plowing Snow onto Roads is Hazardous

In light of Thursday night's snow fall, the Michigan Department of Transportation reminds residents and businesses that depositing snow that obstructs vision is a violation of Michigan's Vehicle Code.