Story Category: Public Works And Energy »

State Highway workers are preparing for the next snow storm, preloading salt trucks and more. Most SHA employees took Monday afternoon to recharge their batteries; it was the first day many of them had a chance to go home since last Friday.

According to Robert Rager, District 5 Community Liaison for SHA, “everyone is on-call and swamped for the foreseeable future. We will give updates as we get them but basically the song remains the same... all hands on deck.”

Rager indicated that as of Tuesday morning, Feb. 9, SHA was running about 800 pieces of equipment statewide as crews and contractors catch a short breather.

“At peak we'll be running about 2,700 pieces of equipment statewide,” said Rager.
 
Rager emphasized the need for people to continue to avoid traveling if at all possible. “SHA's primary goal during and after a storm is to open as many roads as possible; starting with the major interstates and highways. We do this so emergency services personnel can get out and do their jobs - police, fire, rescue, doctors, nurses... they need to get out.”
 
Rager stated that another good reason to stay off the roads, especially this week, is that there literally may be no place to go. “Everyone is urged to think ahead about their destination - there's no place to put the snow that's out there now, so even if you can get out to a shopping center, work or neighborhood, you may find that there's no place to park your vehicle.”