Road crews in Allen County break in new snow plows

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - As inches of snow started falling in our area Wednesday, road crews in Allen County gave their brand new snow plows quite a workout.  After talking with Allen County Highway Department officials, both the new trucks and the drivers fared well.

Allen County unveiled its new snow plows just over a week ago.  Click here to learn more about the new trucks, and see why they're an improvement from the old ones.   Little did the county highway department know the plows would be hitting the pavement sooner than later.

"These guys did not have time to get used to the new snow plow trucks.  They jumped in them, took off, and they were plowing snow," Randy Knach with the Allen County Highway Department explained.

As snow blanketed the area, snow plow drivers were out doing their best trying to clear roads.  They said it started snowing early Wednesday morning and did not let up.  Snow plow drivers said the roads got worse as the day progressed.

Road crews said the biggest obstacle by far wasn't maneuvering the new trucks - it was the wind.

"A lot of times when you're in the truck and you're plowing the road you can't always plow with the wind.  So, the snow is blowing back across the windshield and the only thing you look for are fence posts and utility poles to stay in the middle of the road."

Thursday the roads were improving.  Crews focused on scraping off the ice and putting down more sand and salt.

"The roads were snow packed and icy.  This morning (Thursday morning) we got right on them and started sanding them, blading, and using our calcium chloride mix and they're starting to clear up pretty good now."

A friendly reminder to pass along to you from the snow plow drivers - slow down and make sure to give them plenty of room so they can do their jobs.