elsid13
02-04-2006, 03:38 PM
Detroit prepares for winter storm on the eve of Super Bowl
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-superbowl-snow&prov=ap&type=lgns
By TOM KRISHER, Associated Press Writer
February 4, 2006
DETROIT (AP) -- With strong wind and 5 to 8 inches of snow forecast, snow removal crews girded for a winter storm as thousands of fans headed downtown on Super Bowl eve.
About 250 state and local plows will be on the roads in Detroit and throughout Wayne and Oakland counties, said Ron Brundidge, manager of the Detroit Department of Public Works Street Maintenance Division.
There also are hundreds of city workers and volunteers ready to work through the night to clear sidewalks so fans can get to Sunday's title game at Ford Field, which has a steel roof.
"We're not worried," said Brundidge, pointing to a thick notebook outlining Super Bowl snow plans. "One thing that puts us at ease is the fact that we've been preparing for this for so long."
City officials, the Super Bowl host committee and the NFL have been talking about snow removal for about a year, Brundidge said.
They'll have sufficient resources to handle the snowfall, including shovel-toting volunteer athletes from Wayne State University, he said.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Detroit through noon Sunday, predicting 5 to 8 inches of snow before the storm passes. The heaviest amounts were to fall Saturday night, with gusts up to 40 mph.
"I would definitely say that road conditions are going to deteriorate quickly," said Karen Kahl, a meteorologist with the weather service office in suburban Oakland County.
The snow comes after the third-warmest January on record in Detroit, with high temperatures in the 40s most of the month.
The warm temperatures did not help the Motown Winter Blast, a downtown festival featuring a 200-foot snow slide, ice skating and dog sled races timed to coincide with Super Bowl festivities. Organizers had trouble building the slide with snowmaking machines, and wheels had to be put on the dog sleds.
Now the problem most likely will be too much snow for the many parties downtown Saturday night.
Brundidge said more than 70 city workers will clear downtown sidewalks, in addition to contractors hired by the NFL for private property. The city will have 65 plows out, plus another 30 in town from Wayne County and the state, he said.
Fifty to 75 Wayne State athletes from 17 sports including football and women's ice hockey were on snow duty Saturday night. Their first task was to shovel out the Fox Theatre, the site of the NFL commissioner's party, said Jason Clark, associate athletic director.
Brundidge said the city has a plan to truck the snow out of downtown to several vacant lots so it's out of the way when people come downtown Sunday morning.
The NFL urges fans to arrive for the game early, in part because of the expected snowfall. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.
Updated on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 5:20 pm ES
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-superbowl-snow&prov=ap&type=lgns
By TOM KRISHER, Associated Press Writer
February 4, 2006
DETROIT (AP) -- With strong wind and 5 to 8 inches of snow forecast, snow removal crews girded for a winter storm as thousands of fans headed downtown on Super Bowl eve.
About 250 state and local plows will be on the roads in Detroit and throughout Wayne and Oakland counties, said Ron Brundidge, manager of the Detroit Department of Public Works Street Maintenance Division.
There also are hundreds of city workers and volunteers ready to work through the night to clear sidewalks so fans can get to Sunday's title game at Ford Field, which has a steel roof.
"We're not worried," said Brundidge, pointing to a thick notebook outlining Super Bowl snow plans. "One thing that puts us at ease is the fact that we've been preparing for this for so long."
City officials, the Super Bowl host committee and the NFL have been talking about snow removal for about a year, Brundidge said.
They'll have sufficient resources to handle the snowfall, including shovel-toting volunteer athletes from Wayne State University, he said.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Detroit through noon Sunday, predicting 5 to 8 inches of snow before the storm passes. The heaviest amounts were to fall Saturday night, with gusts up to 40 mph.
"I would definitely say that road conditions are going to deteriorate quickly," said Karen Kahl, a meteorologist with the weather service office in suburban Oakland County.
The snow comes after the third-warmest January on record in Detroit, with high temperatures in the 40s most of the month.
The warm temperatures did not help the Motown Winter Blast, a downtown festival featuring a 200-foot snow slide, ice skating and dog sled races timed to coincide with Super Bowl festivities. Organizers had trouble building the slide with snowmaking machines, and wheels had to be put on the dog sleds.
Now the problem most likely will be too much snow for the many parties downtown Saturday night.
Brundidge said more than 70 city workers will clear downtown sidewalks, in addition to contractors hired by the NFL for private property. The city will have 65 plows out, plus another 30 in town from Wayne County and the state, he said.
Fifty to 75 Wayne State athletes from 17 sports including football and women's ice hockey were on snow duty Saturday night. Their first task was to shovel out the Fox Theatre, the site of the NFL commissioner's party, said Jason Clark, associate athletic director.
Brundidge said the city has a plan to truck the snow out of downtown to several vacant lots so it's out of the way when people come downtown Sunday morning.
The NFL urges fans to arrive for the game early, in part because of the expected snowfall. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.
Updated on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 5:20 pm ES