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County highway superintendent outlines 52‑hour snow response, 1,500 tons of salt used and one worker injured
Summary
Superintendent Jeff Bird told the council crews spent roughly 52 hours clearing primaries and secondaries after the storm, using about 1,500 tons of salt across roughly 600 miles of county roads; one driver was injured in a truck slide‑off and is expected to be out for ~12 weeks.
Jeff Bird, county highway superintendent, briefed the Vanderburgh County Council on the department’s response to a recent heavy snowfall, saying crews prioritized primary and secondary roads before moving into subdivisions.
Bird said crews logged an intense first 48–52 hours to clear primary routes, that the county maintains about 600 miles of roads and operates roughly 13 trucks, and that the department used an estimated 1,500 tons of salt during the event. He acknowledged residents’ frustration about delayed subdivision clearing but explained resource constraints and safety considerations for larger trucks on narrow neighborhood streets.
Bird also reported one slide‑off incident in which a driver was injured and suffered a broken sternum; the driver is expected to be out for roughly 12 weeks. Council members thanked the highway team for rapid work and noted the need for transparent public communication about priorities in winter ops.
What’s next: Bird said 1,500 tons of salt delivery is arriving to replenish stock and the department will continue targeted clearing as needed.
