What Roads in Genesee County Get Plowed First?

It’s no secret that the roads have been brutal this week. I mean, it’s January in Michigan. What do we really expect?

You’ve probably seen the comments all over social media asking the same thing every winter. Why is the main road clear, but my street looks completely untouched? It happens every year in Genesee County, and no, the plow drivers aren’t skipping your road out of spite.

It all comes down to priority, and once you know how it’s set up, it actually makes sense.

See Also: When Will Michigan Get a Break From These Brutal Cold Temps?

What Roads Get Plowed First in Genesee County?

First priority always goes to the busiest roads. Highways, main routes, and the roads that keep traffic moving and let emergency vehicles get where they need to go. Those are handled by the Michigan Department of Transportation or the Genesee County Road Commission, depending on who actually owns that stretch of road.

Next up are important secondary roads. These include major county routes, school bus routes, and roads that connect neighborhoods to main roads. If it feels like plows are circling the same roads over and over, that’s why. They’re keeping those routes passable before moving on.

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Residential streets come last. Nobody loves that, but that’s the reality. Side streets just don’t see the same traffic, especially during the worst part of a storm. Plows usually wait until the snow lets up before hitting neighborhoods, otherwise they’d just be clearing the same streets over and over.

Another thing to keep in mind is who plows what. City streets, township roads, and county roads are all handled by different crews. That’s why one block can look great while the next one over looks like Antarctica.