The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is preparing for a winter weather event that could bring freezing rain and icy roads to the state. More than 1000 INDOT trucks are set to treat the roads ahead of the incoming freezing rain, which is expected to start on Wednesday night and continue into Thursday morning.
Freezing Rain Forecasted for Indiana
According to the National Weather Service, a winter weather advisory is in effect for most of Indiana from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday. The advisory warns of freezing rain that could cause slick and hazardous road conditions, especially on bridges, overpasses, and untreated surfaces.
The freezing rain is caused by a warm front that will move across the state, bringing warmer air aloft but keeping cold air near the surface. This will result in rain falling into subfreezing air and freezing on contact with the ground. The freezing rain could also accumulate on trees and power lines, potentially causing power outages.
The amount of freezing rain expected varies by location, but generally ranges from a trace to a tenth of an inch. Some areas in northern and central Indiana could see up to a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation. The freezing rain will gradually change to rain as temperatures rise above freezing on Thursday morning.
INDOT Trucks to Treat Roads with Salt
To combat the freezing rain and prevent ice formation on the roads, INDOT has mobilized more than 1000 trucks across the state to apply salt and other anti-icing materials. The trucks will work in 12-hour shifts to cover the state’s 28,000 lane miles of interstates, U.S. routes, and state roads.
INDOT spokesperson Scott Manning said that the agency is ready for the challenge and has enough salt and other supplies to handle the winter weather event. He also said that INDOT will coordinate with other agencies, such as the Indiana State Police and the Department of Homeland Security, to monitor the road conditions and respond to any emergencies.
Manning advised drivers to stay alert and slow down if they have to travel during the freezing rain. He also urged drivers to give space to the INDOT trucks and other snow plows, and to avoid passing them on the road.
DPW Also Preparing for Freezing Rain in Indianapolis
In Indianapolis, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is also gearing up for the freezing rain and its impact on the city’s streets. DPW spokesperson Imani Keith told IndyStar that DPW staff are “all hands on deck”, with 60 trucks and over 100 crew members out plowing and treating roads in 12-hour shifts.
Keith said that DPW will focus on the city’s main thoroughfares and emergency routes first, and then move on to the secondary and residential streets. She also said that DPW will use a salt brine solution to pre-treat the roads before the freezing rain starts, and then apply rock salt during and after the freezing rain to melt the ice.
Keith also echoed Manning’s advice to drivers, and asked them to limit themselves to necessary travel only and to be cautious on the roads. She also reminded drivers to clear their vehicles of any ice or snow before driving, and to check their tires and windshield wipers for proper functioning.
The freezing rain is expected to end by Thursday afternoon, but drivers should still be careful of any residual ice or black ice on the roads. Both INDOT and DPW will continue to monitor the road conditions and update the public on their websites and social media platforms.
