Ocean County Leader

Ocean County is prepared to tackle winter weather challenges, according to local officials. John P. Kelly, the incoming Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, stated that "Ocean County is prepared to handle winter weather whether it be snow, ice, a wintry mix or storms." He emphasized the collaboration among county departments to ensure road safety and maintain access to services.

Arthur Reece, Ocean County Road Supervisor, confirmed that sufficient brine and pretreated salt are available for road clearance during snowstorms. Plow trucks are also ready for deployment. "We have already seen three weather events where we salted and brined our roads at the end of 2024," Reece noted.

The county's Road Department and Bridge Departments can mobilize around 200 pieces of equipment for snow removal. Preparations include readying salt spreaders and attaching plows to trucks before winter begins.

For effective snow management, over 1,600 lane miles of county roads are treated with a mixture of road salt and water when temperatures drop without rain in the forecast. Kelly highlighted that "with the largest County road network in the state, brine is a cost-effective way of keeping snow from piling up on the roads."

Brine is mixed at facilities in Plumsted, Toms River, and Stafford townships with about 25,000 gallons available for upcoming weather events. However, Reece pointed out that "brine is an excellent option for storms where forecasts call for precipitation to begin as snow; it doesn't work for storms that begin as rain."

In addition to brine, more than 30,000 tons of treated salt are stocked by the county. This salt contains calcium chloride which enhances its effectiveness against snow and ice.

If significant snowfall occurs necessitating plowing, priority is given to main roads such as Hooper Avenue in Toms River Township and Route 571 extending through Toms River Township into Jackson Township. Southern Ocean County's Route 539 is also prioritized.

Reece explained their approach: "We start with these main roads and work our way to the secondary roads." The Road Department also clears all county parking lots including those at vocational-technical centers and libraries.

The department receives assistance from other county divisions like Solid Waste Management and Parks & Recreation. Kelly described this cooperation as essential: "It's a cooperative effort on part of the County...The cooperation makes for a much smoother operation."

Buildings & Grounds handles clearing around government buildings ensuring continued service provision while safeguarding staff safety according to Kelly.

Weather patterns vary across Ocean County with coastal areas often experiencing rain due to warmer ocean temperatures while inland regions like Jackson see more snowfall. Reece mentioned they closely monitor weather changes: "We watch...because it's always changing."

He advised residents not crowd plow trucks during operations nor park vehicles on streets being cleared saying it ensures smooth operations if everyone cooperates together ensuring motorist safety remains paramount according Kelly who concluded by stating: “So long as we can work together...the safety of our motorists is priority.”