The Muskegon County Road Commission is urging motorists to be safe this winter. Pictured above: Road Commission trucks plow Whitbeck Road after a major snow storm in February 2011.

Just as MCRC snow plow drivers are preparing for winter conditions, motorists should be getting ready, too. MCRC is encouraging motorists to monitor the weather and when a MCRC truck is seen on the road doing their job, give them plenty of space.

The MCRC is responsible for maintaining over 1,400 miles of roads that include the state highways (expressways). Road crews must have ample room in order to safely clear the many miles of roadway of snow and ice. A steady decrease in road funding and an increase in costs have caused the road commission to plow the same miles of road with fewer employees. With that said, many of the road commission trucks are now supplied with snow wings that will allow plowing services to be completed more quickly in some areas. The large trucks are hard enough to maneuver through traffic and with the snow wing attached, it becomes even more challenging.