Drivers could see green lights on Wisconsin snowplows this winter

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) -With snow returning for the winter season, this 12 months some communities could discover new lights out on the streets.

Earlier this 12 months Wisconsin Act 255 was enacted. Which means county and municipal freeway departments can put inexperienced fluorescent lights on their autos.

One among its objectives: to make the roads safer for these working to clear them.

Because the snow begins to fall within the Metropolis of Eau Claire, its streets and fleets division is making ready for the beginning of the winter.

“I do know our drivers are excited to get out, and we do take pleasure in snowplowing, and it’s one of many essential causes we’re right here on the metropolis,” stated Aaron Nicholson, the Metropolis of Eau Claire Streets and Fleets Supervisor.

Nicholson stated when the quantity of snow reaches three inches, that’s once they do a full residential plow. Proper now their focus is on elements of the roads which can be first impacted by snowy climate.

“Bridges are getting iced up with slightly little bit of accumulation, in order that they’re going to scrape these off,” Nicholson stated. “We’ll test the hills particularly. You’ll see a few of the centerlines are accumulating just a bit little bit of slush, in order that they’ll scrape off what they should, however the large factor as we speak goes to be salt and brine and simply melting no matter is there off the highway.”

Whereas the snowplows are working to clear the roads, they use lights to assist different drivers see them higher. Proper now these colours are amber and white. A newly handed regulation is including inexperienced lights to the combo.

“There’s a pair points of it,” Nicholson stated. “One is simply the visibility of the inexperienced. They did analysis and located that the inexperienced actually shines by the snow higher than the amber or yellow lights, however the second merchandise is that it’s restricted to municipal use that they need us to know hey, these guys are clearing the roads, and it’s not only a non-public citizen plowing a car parking zone.”

Nicholson stated you received’t see inexperienced lights within the Metropolis of Eau Claire simply but. They’re nonetheless trying into the precise laws set out by the state.

The Eau Claire County Freeway Division stated it plans to have inexperienced lights on its autos within the subsequent six to eight weeks.

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