Snow crews from the city of Lawrence were on city thoroughfares before dawn Sunday, confronting the winter storm that is moving through Central Indiana.
“With the snow coming down as heavily as it is and with expectations that this onslaught will continue for many more hours, we’ll be concentrating exclusively on the thoroughfares that traverse the city,” Mayor Dean Jessup said. “We want to ensure that police officers, ambulances and fire equipment can respond to emergencies and not get hung up by the snow.”
The city’s fleet of nine dump trucks, 10 pickup trucks with plows, two backhoes and a loader will be out in force to plow Post Road, Franklin Road, 56th Street, Sunnyside Road and Oaklandon Road and will return as often as necessary to make sure they are clear, Mayor Jessup said.
The crews will move on to collector streets – two-lane streets that move traffic from residential streets to the thoroughfares – after the thoroughfares are cleared. They include Lee Road, Indian Lake Road and 75th Street. It may be Monday before the crews can reach residential streets.
In the meantime, Mayor Jessup urged residents to stay home and stay warm unless they absolutely must go out. Residents are asked to look to their neighbors first if they have a minor need, but to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency. The city is working with several local churches and will open a municipal facility if emergency shelter is needed, the mayor said.
