Sauk County Highway Department Winter Hours and Driving Tips

With the winter season approaching the Sauk County Highway Department asks all motorists to slow down and use safe winter driving practices. Drivers need to be aware of the changing road conditions due to varying temperatures and precipitation. Frost and black ice can form at any time when weather conditions are right.

During snow events drivers need to slow down and allow more time to travel safely to their destinations. When following snow plows please stay back at least 200 feet, it’s the law. Plows and vehicles can create white-outs due to blowing snow. By maintaining a safe following distance visibility is improved allowing better reaction time for any defensive driving measures that may be needed.

During a storm, heavily traveled multi-lane freeways and expressways, and high volume two and four-lane highways- I90/94 and USH 12- will receive a high level of service and effort 24-hours a day, as conditions allow, in order to maintain passable roads. All other State and County highways will receive an effort from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the storm.

If extreme weather conditions cause conditions to deteriorate to the point that it is dangerous for both the general public and the crews to be on the roadways, the plows will be removed from the highways until conditions improve. However, if crews are safely able to continue their work, there may be instances, such as freezing rain, where counties will deviate from the guidelines to keep traffic moving.

After the storm, plow operators will shift their attention to cleaning up traveled lanes, bridge decks, slippery spots and intersections on all highways as they work toward achieving a bare/dry pavement. A bare/dry pavement condition will not usually exist until weather conditions improve and may take several days to achieve.

Before each winter storm, County highway maintenance staffs consider things like traffic density, weather forecast, pavement surface temperature, time of day, and terrain to determine how to best handle the oncoming storm.

To make plowing as efficient as possible crews will typically apply common rock salt to the highway with salt-sand mixture used on lower volume county and town roads. Salt prevents the bonding of snow, ice, freezing rain and sleet to the pavement. When the pavement temperature is above 20⁰ F, salt is very effective. Once the pavement temperature drops below 20⁰ F, salts effectiveness is significantly reduced and other de-icing agents, including Calcium or Magnesium Chloride can be added to lower the freezing point of snow and ice to help prevent their bonding to the road’s surface. Below 10⁰ F sand is often applied to a road’s surface as an abrasive to improve friction. Under certain conditions, neither salt nor sand is applied and just plowing is conducted.

 Most crashes in Winter are caused by motorists driving too fast for conditions during, or shortly after winter storms. So here are a few safety tips to improve your winter driving skills:

Clear snow and ice from all windows, lights, hood, trunk lid and roof before driving.

Pay attention. Don’t try to outdrive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.

Leave plenty of room for stopping.

Know the current road conditions. Call 511 or log onto: www.511wi.gov/web/

Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.

Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.

Do not use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any quicker. Many 4x4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t’ get overconfident in your 4x4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4x4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.

Go Slow And Always Buckle Up. Listen to weather forecasts and check Wisconsin road conditions before your trip.

If you have any questions concerning Sauk County Highway Department Winter Maintenance Operations, call the office at 608-355-4855.