Feature
Indianapolis Adds More Gear To Snow Fight 11.1.11
WRTV
INDIANAPOLIS -- With all eyes on Indianapolis for the Super Bowl in February, city officials brought out the heavy snow-fighting gear Tuesday to send a message of readiness.
Indianapolis has added six new snowplows to its fleet this year, bringing the total number of trucks to 73.
Even with the added hardware, drivers could have their work cut out for them this winter, RTV6's Chance Walser reported.
Storm Team 6 and National Weather Service forecasters think the upcoming winter will be wetter and possibly cooler than normal, which equates to more snow and ice.
Timing will be everything, and image will mean as much or more than reality when Super Bowl festivities begin in February, with about 100,000 visitors in the city.
If heavy snow and ice bear down on the city around the Super Bowl, Indianapolis' response will be heavily scrutinized.
"We've been planning for a very long time," said Kara Brooks, spokeswoman for the Department of Public Works. "We've been looking at and evaluating our current snow plan, looking at how we can beef it up, add resources to it, and that's what we've been doing."
The city plans to bring more private contractors, along with the Indiana Department of Transportation, to the snow fight, if needed.
The Super Bowl Host Committee said that volunteers will hit the sidewalks with shovels, keeping them clear for added foot traffic.
"I have a lot of faith between what our snow force is doing and what the Super Bowl committee has been planning," said Mayor Greg Ballard. "I have a lot of confidence in that."
DPW said it will have 150 drivers available during Super Bowl week, enough to keep trucks running 24 hours a day.
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