by Lissa Blake
With 880 miles of road to maintain, Allamakee County road crews have been putting forth their best effort to combat the snow, ice and wind conditions this winter. Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour recently explained what it takes to keep the roads clear and County employees and residents safe during a winter such has been experienced this year.
“We have 10 motor graders, 12 plow trucks, five loaders and 27 dedicated, dependable operators,” said Ridenour of his Allamakee County Secondary Roads Department. He said the County’s normal budget for winter maintenance is $500,000, and he says his department has already used up about 90 percent of that this winter.
“Hopefully, March will be good to us,” said Ridenour. In addition to labor, that money helps pay for around 1,200 tons of salt and 30,000 tons of sand used on County roadways.