After working to clear snow off of area roadways for the last two weeks, the Marion County Roads Department is now preparing for the possibility of icy driving conditions.

Marion County Engineer Tyler Christian says that crews have met the requirements of the county’s snow ordinance, but work to widen area roadways is still ongoing. With the potential for rain and icy conditions to occur this week, Christian says that the department is working to repair equipment and making other preparations for this new weather system.

“With the threat of ice, we want to make sure we have good sets of tire chains for all of our vehicles and equipment. So, after two weeks of pushing snow or busting drifts with v-plows, a lot of our chains have worn out. So, we are repairing those in preparation for ice for the trucks and motor graders, but also there’s a lot of snow pack out there on the gravel roads especially. So, we’re trying to use our picks and pick through that and get some gravel and granular material, brought to the surface so there’s at least maybe some traction if we do get ice.” 

Hear more from Tyler Christian on today’s In Touch with South Central Iowa.