First snowfall of '08 blankets Greencastle

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Greencastle started 2008 with around two inches of snowfall, but the city's Department of Public Works was ready for it.

Commissioner Paul Wilson said his crew used about 80 tons of magnesium chloride, or Clean Lane, to combat the snow.

"Our guys came in around 7 a.m. to start fighting it," Wilson told the BannerGraphic, and they had done a pre-application the night before on the main routes.

"We had the best of it in a short time," he said, "and then later it came in again and the wind kicked up and blowed snow across the clean streets."

The reduction of traffic on local streets due to the holiday was a blessing, in part because it allowed heavy equipment to move easier and with less obstacles. The street department had four to five snow plows working on the local roads.

Tuesday night's bitter cold did not help with snow removal efforts. The Clean Lane product works even better when sunlight can help melt the snow. After sundown, there was not a lot of snow to plow off the streets.

Wilson said the street crews still have plenty of magnesium chloride to battle any future storm. About 300 tons remains on site, and when that amount drops to 200 tons, he will reorder to make sure the city stays prepared.

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