The Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities in New York is fully prepared to tackle winter weather.

With their fleet of plows ready to go since November 18, crews are focused on keeping roads safe for drivers.  

“We are prepared for whatever weather is headed our way,” stated Tim Card, Chautauqua County Director of Public Facilities. “We have several tons of salt and traction material stocked and ready to go. All of our plows are on, and we did get a little bit of snow last week, which gave us a good opportunity to make sure that everything was running properly.”  

Crews will start their day as early as 3:00AM to address road conditions, and in severe weather, drivers could work up to 12-hour shifts to ensure roads remain clear and passable.  With that in mind, the department is asking for travelers to be patient and allow time and space for the plow drivers.

“We want to stress the importance of staying safe on the roads for travelers and our plow drivers,” Card added. "This means, leaving the house early to make sure you are not in a rush and allowing room for our large plows to do their job. They are large vehicles that have even larger turning radius.”  

With equipment, supplies, and staff ready for the season, the Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities is asking drivers to do their part by slowing down and giving plows plenty of space to work.