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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer
The City of Salem tackled 10 ½ inches of snow on the city streets after the winter storm this past Sunday. Gina Hoskins said the Street Department is in charge of plowing over 41 miles of city roads.
The task started Sunday, January 5 at 5 a.m. and lasted until 10 p.m., but the effort continued on through the rest of the week. However, temperatures will remain in the freezing range ensuring no quick melting. With the additional accumulation that fell on Friday, January 10, it is hard to say what the road conditions will be.
The Washington Co. Highway Superintendent, Rick Voyles, said there are 780 miles of county roads that they treat. Down one lane and then backup the other for a total of 1,560 miles. Although, 100 miles of that is gravel road that cannot be treated with salt because the mixture would produce mud.
The county uses a mixture of salt, sand and #11 stone to treat the road. That’s 900 tons of material.
Sometimes mailboxes may be victims of collateral damage by large snow plows. Along HWY 60 in Clark Co. is an example. Depending on the location, there may be compensation for damage. In the City of Salem, call the street department at 812-883-4265 or the Washington Co. Highway Department at 812-883-3538.
Be careful while shoveling snow, as it can be heavy. Be sure to take breaks and stay warm. A common danger to watch for is large sheets of ice sliding off of houses and semi-truck trailers. These can easily cause major property damage, injury and worse. Be sure to stay safe and warm during this winter weather!
Photos by Jerry Curry.