Butler County roads
crews continue to work around the clock to keep up with the second
major winter storm to hit the area in a week. Additional overnight
snow and rapidly falling temperatures have made driving conditions
treacherous in many parts of the County this morning. Though
the storm has finally moved out of the area, a level
2 snow emergency remains in effect, according to Butler County
Engineer Greg Wilkens. Travel is not recommended unless absolutely
necessary. If you must drive, please use extreme caution and
allow extra time to arrive at your destination.
"We would also
ask that motorists yield to snow plows and salt trucks, giving
them plenty of room to do their job," Wilkens advised. Conditions
on the Butler County road system
are variable with some roads in better shape than others. "Yesterday's
snow and ice accumulations combined with another round of snow
last night and high winds have presented us with quite a challenge,"
he said. "Drifting has been a problem in the northern and
western townships, especially across the east-west roads. Clearing
drifts takes extra time. And certain areas that are prone to
drifting often drift back over after our crews have moved on
to other roads."
BCEO snow and ice control
crews have reported drifting on numerous roads, including Stillwell
Beckett Road, Brookville Road, Contreras Road, Somerville Road,
Peoria Reily Road, Springfield Road, and Okeana Drewersburg Road.
Motorists attempting to travel these or any other roads in the
northern and western portions of Butler County should watch for
drifts ahead and not attempt to drive through them. A few roads
in Oxford Township were said to be impassable, including Doty
Road and Jones Road. There are also reports of many stuck and
abandoned vehicles on rural roadways which hinders snow plow
operations even more.
Low hanging tree limbs
heavy with ice could be hazardous and as winds increase to a
predicted 35-40 mph today, the incidents of broken limbs and
downed power lines could become a significant issue for motorists.
There have already been numerous reports of widespread power
outages throughout the region, particularly in those areas that
saw more freezing rain.
Road Crews
Continue to Work
As the winter storm
bore down on Butler County, BCEO snow and ice control crews were
pressed into service around 10:00 p.m. Monday night. They have
worked continuously since, plowing and salting the roads as conditions
dictate. Yesterday's extended period of freezing rain and sleet,
especially across the southern half of the County, meant a lot
of salt was utilized after the initial blast of snow was plowed
away.
The Engineer's Office
utilizes 13 snow and ice control routes to ensure that all 269
miles of County roadway are
treated quickly and efficiently. BCEO snowfighters are comprised
of two teams that work 12-hour shifts each. Wilkens said it appears
that weather conditions may require crews to be in operation
all day and probably into the overnight hours. Temperatures in
the teens and single digits have caused wet and slushy road surfaces
to freeze. Moreover, the additional snow that has fallen on top
of the ice, plus blowing and drifting, has generated more problems.
Contending
With a Variety of Conditions
BCEO crews have had
to contend with a variety of winter weather conditions throughout
the duration of this storm. Butler County was clearly on the
snow-ice line along the southern fringe of the massive winter
storm that produced blizzard conditions through central Indiana
and Ohio. Considerably more snow has fallen across the northern
half of Butler County while the southern portions have seen more
freezing rain, sleet, and ice.
About 2-4 inches of
snow fell in the southern areas before significant ice accumulations
began to build up yesterday afternoon. Another couple of inches
then fell overnight. The northern half has received a total of
6-7 inches of snow plus drifting, and though some icing did occur,
it was not as substantial as what areas to the south have seen.
"Our crews have
had to deal with a little of everything this time around,"
Wilkens said. "We commend their efforts and would like for
the public to know how hard these guys work to make our roads
safe and passable in the winter time."
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For more information
contact:
Chris
Petrocy, BCEO Public Information Supervisor
Greg Wilkens, P.E., P.S.,
Butler County Engineer
Phone 513.867.5744 • Fax 513.867.5849
