Storm keeps travel slow, plows busy

GRAND CHUTE - The Wisconsin State Patrol reported every major highway in the area was snow-covered Tuesday night, keeping plows busy and travelers moving slowly.

The steady snowfall caused a number of traffic problems in the area. Visibility improved in the later hours, but during rush hour blowing snow made it very difficult to see. The Outagamie County Sheriff's Department says the roads were icy Tuesday and there were a number of cars in the ditch. Officers have also seen crashes, but have no serious injuries to report.

Winnebago County also saw trouble, by 2:00 there were 19 cars in the ditch and nine crashes. Fortunately, no major injuries in that county either.

Road crews in our area, as well as other parts of the country were doing their best to keep up with the snow. Here in Northeast Wisconsin snow removal crews have been working constantly since Monday night to keep up. Both Outagamie and Winnebago counties had full fleets out clearing.

It was the same in the City of Appleton, where all hands were on deck.

Things aren't going as smoothly in the nation's capital. Winter Storm Doug has reached that area, but as many as 25 percent of the district's snow plows are out of commission. That's as many as 60 trucks, with snow streets still waiting.

"That would be a bid hit," Nate Loper with Appleton Public Works said. "I don't think that has ever happened to us. Our equipment is in really good shape, mechanics do a great job keeping everything up."

Appleton had 34 pieces of equipment out Tuesday and no breakdowns. Loper says regular, preventative maintenance makes the difference.

The Outagamie County Sheriff's Department says it has enacted a towing ban. Cars in the ditch along 41 and 441 won't be removed until the weather improves.