Fast-falling, heavy snow blanketed Charleston on Friday, creating slick road conditions and keeping city crews busy throughout the day.
Drivers like Tony Centofanti noticed the impact.
“If you don’t need to be out, it’s probably better to be home, but I mean, our road crews are doing a terrific job. I mean, when it started to snow about what, 10, 11 o’clock, it was actually kind of bad,” Centofanti said. “But then that passed and the road crews were out, they put salt down and plowed. It’s not bad.”
Charleston Public Works Director Brent Webster said the steady snowfall made it challenging for plow operators to keep routes clear.
“Even plowing the route, as you keep going with the rest of your route it continues to cover back up,” Webster said. “It’s almost like a rinse and repeat, you got to keep doing it. Now I think it’s going to start stabilizing a little bit and give us a chance to catch up.”
Webster explained that when snow falls quickly and heavily, crews prioritize Charleston’s hilly areas since those roads pose greater risks to drivers.
Flat neighborhoods and secondary roads typically receive attention later because they are less hazardous.
“Some of the flat areas and the East End flat areas, the West Side and flat areas of the city those aren’t treated,” Webster said. “If there’s ever time and there’s been very little time this winter you can go and try to maybe break up some of the ice, but it’s been very difficult to keep up with our 17 routes.”
As temperatures drop overnight, Webster urged drivers to remain cautious, warning that some roads could become icy.