ISHPEMING, Mich. (WLUC) – The extended cold streak through this winter has cut into Marquette County Road Commission sand supplies, but has reduced the usage of their salt stock in exchange.

Road commission staff said they’ve spent more this year due to the winter, but not much more than usual.

The Marquette County Road Commission said this winter has been about average for the U.P.

“We’ve seen this before, we haven’t seen it in a couple years but again this is, I would say not below normal, it’s not real high, I’d say it’s one of the average U.P. winters here for us,” Engineer Manager for the Marquette County Road Commission Jim Iwanicki said.

Road commission staff said they’ve spent about 14 percent more than last year, and have used about 30 percent more sand this year.

“That’s partially due to the extended cold streak out there. Salt doesn’t work as effectively at lower temperatures and so rather than wasting that money with product that’s not working as well, we chose to use sand at that time, so that’s one of the major differences this winter,” Iwanicki said.

READ MORE AT: http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/Marquette-County-Road-Commission-2018-winter-status-update-476169653.html