Henry County plows keep the roads safe

MT. PLEASANT - Over the weekend, Iowa experienced the first major snow of the season. Heavy snows blanketed the state, bringing hazardous driving conditions. But when snow’s on the way, the plows get to work.

Henry County Secondary Roads operates nine dump trucks, eight road graders, and two pickup trucks. In the winter, all of them sport plows. Over the course of this storm, they have worked 12-hour shifts, clearing over 700 miles of road. Drivers work from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m, each driving a set route.

“Our guys did great,“ said Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss. ”Equipment operated as it should, and with advanced warning we had our equipment ready for the storm. With holiday storms, I’m thankful for the maintenance employees and their dedication to make winter traveling safe. It also helped that we received less than the predicted amount of snow.“

Even so, the storm hasn’t been without incident. In a press release, Iowa State Patrol said that, on Nov. 28 alone, the agency saw 29 crashes and 55 motorist assist calls in the State of Iowa.

And still there is more to come. With forecasts promising snow throughout the next week, and the inevitability of a snowy Iowan winter, the plow drivers will have their work cut out for them.

Call Marilyn Higgins at 319-368-8895 or email her at marilyn.higgins@southeastiowaunion.com