We got our first glimpse of winter weather in the Treasure Valley Sunday night, bringing in trace amounts of snow across southwestern Idaho. Ironically, Boise's high temperature Sunday reached into the upper 50's.
Since Idaho's November weather can be unpredictable, crews at ACHD are sure to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings their way.
Drivers undergo winter operations training in October, giving the new snow plows a test drive.
Nicole Du Bois with the Ada County Highway District says crews stay in close contact with the National Weather Service about expected snowfall.
If they know Ada County is expected to get significant snow, they pretreat local roads with Magnesium Chloride, which makes it more difficult for snow and ice to stick to the road's surface.
ACHD also has crews working "on call" shifts throughout winter months. Employees wake up at midnight and drive around local Ada County roads to check for snow and ice on bridges and roadways.
The Idaho Transportation Department plows the interstate, on and off ramps and the connector as well as state highways like Chinden Boulevard. ACHD handles local roads with their top priority being busy intersections, bridges and overpasses, school crossings and steep roads.
