
Nick Repekta (right) and Jim Fleming stand in front of the salt shed at the DPW facility. The pair recently discussed how they prepare for winter weather. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
SHREWSBURY – How often do members of the Highway Division check the weather during the winter?
“At least 100 times a day,” Highway Supervisor Jim Fleming admitted.
And it’s for good reason — weather is everything to the department. As the group responsible for ensuring Shrewsbury’s 711 roads are safe — even during the harshest winter weather — the Highway Division looks at just about every forecast possible to determine when to start preparing.
“The wheels start turning immediately. You’re looking at different times, you’re looking at days and scheduling, making sure all the trucks are all ready to roll. The trucks that specifically plow need to be ready to go,” Fleming told the Community Advocate Jan. 17, days before the latest snowstorm on Jan. 19.
In the lead-up to the storm and as soon as snowflakes appear in the forecast, preparation begins. The Highway Division schedules staff and ensures the equipment is snow-ready.
Staff check the oil, tires, and lights of all 24 pieces of town-owned snow equipment. The weather-checking also never stops; the town subscribes to a variety of localized weather forecasts and projections.
The Highway Division can pre-treat the roads with saltwater brine, which enables snow to melt easier. But not every storm is alike, and pretreatment can vary depending on pre-storm conditions. The department won’t pre-treat the roads with saltwater if there’s rain forecasted prior to the snow, for example.
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In all cases, though, the Highway Division’s primary focus is ensuring snow doesn’t stick to the roads.
“It’s about delaying the bond. We’re never going to melt it all the way, we’re going to delay it from bonding to the road. That’s the whole key. It’s significantly cheaper to plow it off than it is to melt it off. If we can make it not stick and freeze to the road, it plows off easier,” said Highway Division Manager Nick Repekta.
Once the snow gets going, so does the plowing. Working on 33 different plow routes and eight salt-truck routes, the department’s staff traverses the town, prioritizing high-traffic areas. Miles of sidewalks need to be cleared too.
Repekta plans the smallest details. Which grocery stores will be open during the storm? The staff may need food during breaks. In some cases, he’s had pots full of hot food to keep employees warm and nourished. With storms that are constantly evolving, the drivers often work for extended periods.
“We rely on our drivers to know their routes, know their priorities, and plan their route accordingly. They are the heartbeat of what we do. If we lay out the plan for them, they carry it out. Everybody lives on a road — you have to get to them all,” said Repekta.
“Our drivers know the level of service we need to provide. They know what’s required of the job,” he said.