By Anna Skinner
With the first few snowfalls of the season already underway and plenty of rain to accompany the cold weather, the Westfield Public Works Department is prepared.
The group ordered 2,500 tons of salt for the winter season. In addition, there will be five dump trucks and three pickup trucks with salt boxes, compared to one pickup truck with a salt box last year. Twenty pickup trucks installed with plows are ready to go whenever the weather calls for them as well.
Angie Smitherman, Public Works administrative manager, said the department has met with Practical Property Group and Brickman Group, the two contractors that handle Westfield’s subdivision plowing.
“Maintaining our roadways has always been a top priority of mine,” Westfield Mayor Andy Cook said. “Every year the Public Works Department has a plan in place to ensure the safety of our motorists, but winter can be the most challenging season when it comes to our resources. If there is a high accumulation of snow and ice, that means more man hours for salting and plowing and more wear and tear on the equipment. Over last few years, the city started using other companies to assist in clearing snow from our neighborhood roads. That way, one snow event doesn’t deplete all of the city resources. It has proven to be a fiscally responsible decision that has saved the city money, time and resources all while keeping our roadways safe for drivers.”
The city installed 2,000 feet of snow fence to manage drifting and also placed 600 plow markers to mark curbs and road edges for prevention of plow damage.
The Indiana Dept. of Transportation has also been taking the necessary steps to prepare for the possibly treacherous season.
According to a press release, INDOT has been prepping for winter since everything thawed last spring. Last year, 278,000 tons of salt and 5.2 million gallons of salt brine were used on state and federal highways. INDOT currently has more than 193,000 tons of salt on hand.
