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40 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, December 9, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 28, 2003 Road-work crews shift focus for the winter months By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Birds migrating south and days growing shorter aren’t the only shifts brought on by seasonal changes. For certain workers, entire job descriptions are altered. Among those are road-builders. "(Our) operations division is a completely different animal in the summer," said Medford Public Works Director Cory Crebbin. In recent weeks, asphalt crews have morphed into concrete crews so they can work in the wet months. "Asphalt and water really don’t mix too well," said Tad Blanton, field operations supervisor. Advertisement He said a water-soluble oil is used with asphalt, so paving in the rain can result in potholes, gaps and chunks breaking off. Other crews evolve as well. Painting and striping crews become the sign-making and sign-installing crews; grass mowing crews become storm drain vacuumers, he said. And street sweepers go to town. "We run extra sweepers this time of the year because of the leaves," he said. At LTM, asphalt production is less than one-10th in the winter what it is in the summer, according to chief estimator Dave Ross. "If it’s raining or snowing, we can’t be paving," he said. Their workers don’t change hats, though. "As the paving season slows down, our crews are laid off," he said. "If it’s raining for two weeks, our guys aren’t working." He said for those who have put in a season of long days, the break is a welcome relief. Operations manager Wayne Pace said there are essentially three seasonal programs at Medford Public Works. Crews wear one hat for warm, dry weather, another for cold, wet weather, and then wind, snow and ice are something else altogether. "(For) snow and ice, our whole department switches to snow and ice removal," said Pace. Blanton said one portion of the department doesn’t convert in the winter season: the sewage collection crew. "That’s probably the most consistent crew," he said. Blanton said by May the hats switch back, and it’s paving, painting and mowing again. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times