Bad weather has put a strain on city roads

This year of bad weather just won't go away.

In July, it was the lack of rain. In August, it was the abundance of rain and wind. In October, it was the heat, and now it's the snow, rain, ice and cold.

Residents have had good reason to complain throughout the seasons of 2007. Basements flooded, trees toppled, crops declined and streets crumbled.

And from the looks of it, the end of the calendar year will not bring peace. Early snowfall has hastened the demand for roads to be salted and crews spreading it to work overtime.

"We've already spread a third of our estimated use," said Joe Cavallaro, West Dundee village manager. "We've budgeted for 1,000 tons of salt and we've already used 385 tons."

During each recent snow and sleet fall, village public works crews have used an average of 40 tons on West Dundee's 28 miles of roads. The season is still too early to cause alarm because everyone knows there is no longer an average northern Illinois winter. Precipitation can stop and we could be looking at dry roads and grass until March or April.

"Come January, we could be back to normal," said Larry Braasch, Dundee Township highway commissioner. "You can't tell from one winter to the next."

He is hoping the 900 tons of salt he has budgeted for will get him through the winter. In past years salt bins have been filled well into the season because of lack of snow.

This year, Braasch's crews have spread more on their 38 miles of township main roads than in past Decembers at this time.

Running out is not a concern. If village salt bins get low, leaders can buy more. They will have to dip deeper into their budgets and complain a little. But no doubt the words won't be as harsh as the ones motorists will utter when they drive on roads next spring.

All this moisture 2007 brought, especially in the past three weeks, is worsening the pothole problem in the spring. This freeze-and-thaw-weather pattern, and the salt that goes with it, are setting the stage for potholes to be abundant and big, Braasch said.

"The snow freezes and thaws and the water gets in cracks of the pavement. Then, it freezes again," he said. "Yes, there might be more potholes, and they may be bad."

The snow plows that are carrying all the salt won't help. Drivers scrape their steel blades across the heaved cracks and loosen weak pavement. Asphalt that has been put in potholes will become loose and the holes will open again. By that time the calendar will have turned to 2008. And the weather that made the roads worse will be a memory.