Crews clearing Wichita roads for morning commuters
Jan 05, 2025
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - Although skies are clearing, and snow is coming to a stop, crews on the ground in the Wichita area are continuing to plow snow and treat ice.
With temperatures as frigid as they are Sunday night, even plowed roads can get icy.
Another thing to watch out for is the wind, which can blow the powdery snow back onto cleared roads.
For the time being, Sedgwick County Public Works crews are at maximum staffing and working 24-7. The goal overnight is to get roads clear in time for morning commuters. Tonight, frigid temperatures are working against crews.
"The sand can freeze up, the salt sand can freeze up," said Gerry Martin, Sedgwick County Public Works Superintendent of Highways. "We haven't had too much trouble but that is something we talked about for the night shift."
He's unsure how long public works crews will be out. He says it depends on when the wind dies down, and that it could be a day or two. The Kansas Department of Transportation says the same.
"We have full crews out working 12 hour shifts and they're gonna be out there until this winter event is over," said JB Wilson, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Both Sedgwick County Public Works and KDOT warn drivers to keep a distance of 100 feet from snowplows.
According to Sedgwick County Public Works, once temperatures start to rise, they're going to focus more on plowing over treatment.
Martin says the key for drivers in the morning is to go slow.