Round-the-clock work making some headway for highway department

After being dumped on with 12 inches of snow and having a high of -8 degrees on Monday, state workers continue to plow the highways through downtown Greencastle. (Banner Graphic/JOYCE ORLANDO)

While it is true that extreme temperatures in recent days have diminished the operating capacity of the Putnam County Highway Department, Supervisor Mike Ricketts would like to assure county residents that it probably isn't as bad as they've heard.

"There's a rumor going around at Heritage Lake that we only have one truck running for the whole county," Ricketts said with a bit of a laugh. "That is not true."

What is true is that temperatures, which dipped below -10 degrees on Monday and lingered there until Tuesday morning, are doing a number on the diesel engines of county highway equipment.

Ricketts told the Banner Graphic around noon Tuesday that he had three road graders out of commission, but hoped they would be operating again by later in the afternoon.

Trucks used for plowing are operating, but it remains an uphill battle. While the wind Tuesday was not as heavy as it had been on Monday, earlier drifts remain, which makes for slow plowing.

"Right now, we're trying to get the main county roads open," Ricketts said, saying he hoped such roads were reopen by Tuesday evening.

After that, they will turn their attention to secondary roads on Wednesday.

On Monday, drifts were reported of at least six or seven feet in some parts of northern Putnam County. When the snow gets that deep, it is not simply a matter of plowing, but of digging.

"It's really deep in some spots and it's going to take some time to get through them," Ricketts said.

An additional complication of the frigid temperatures is the ineffectiveness of salt in sub-zero temperatures. While trucks can plow and throw sand, salt will not melt snow in these temperatures, leaving some amount of snow and ice on the roadways even after plowing.

Ricketts said the highway department has probably fielded more than 200 calls about getting roads open. They are requesting the public's patience.

"People just need to know that we're going to get to it," Ricketts said. "It's just going to take time."

Although nothing is set in stone, the idea has been kicked around of bringing in contractors to assist with the plowing effort until county roads are reopen.

With many roads still closed, county officials met Tuesday afternoon, choosing to extend the emergency travel warning (Level 1) through 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

County Commissioners are hopeful about reopening county offices on Wednesday, operating with whatever staffers are able to make it to work.