Residents, road crews ready for snow
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Ready or not, winter weather is coming back — at least for the weekend.
The Department of Public Works says it’s ready to get to work clearing roads.
Should we grab the umbrella and rain boots or the winter coat and gloves? This winter, Mother Nature can’t seem to make up her mind.
“I really wore a light sweatshirt because it really hasn’t been that cold this season. So, I think I’m going to break out the coat tomorrow,” said weather-confused Hoosier Jeff Medaris.
Another Hoosier with an eye on the sky, Mike Hudson, added, “Good old Indiana weather for us. You never can tell; it’ll change over night.”
And change over night it is expected to do. With dropping temperatures, all that rain will turn to ice and snow. DPW will have to dust off its plows, which haven’t gotten much use this season.
“We have seen a milder winter than what we’re used to seeing. We can thank El Nino pattern for that. We are seeing a much milder winter as a result. That doesn’t mean that we’re not prepared,” said DPW Public Information Officer Jennifer Hashem.
At DPW, barns are piled high with salt. Eighty six plow truck drivers will be on hand overnight Saturday into Sunday to salt and plow the roads. On Sunday morning, 113 drivers will come in to further rid the streets of ice and snow. Due to the rain, the roads were not pre-treated.
“DPW has a systematic approach for the way we approach the snow,” explained Hashem. “We take care of our primary thorough fares. That is the link to our city’s emergency services as well as our commuters. Those are the ones that our commuters take daily.”
Due to icy conditions, DPW will also salt bridges and overpasses, and then secondary roads “We want to make sure residents are prepared; whether that’s taking it easy on the roadways, giving yourself some extra time to get to your destination (or) space between you and the vehicle in front of you,” said Hashem.
Of course, if you don’t have to be out, it’ll be the perfect day to be snowed in.
Medaris added, “I think I’m just going to stay at home with my family tomorrow and relax.”
DPW says they will also have crews out Sunday night into Monday morning to clear the roads for the work commute. As far as residential neighborhoods, those roads will not be salted and plowed by DPW unless there is six inches or more of snow.