As the sun finally begins to break through the clouds in Collierville, a common question arises: Why are the roads taking so long to clear?

To answer that, Streets and Drainage Manager Justin Wilburn took us behind the scenes to show the reality of what his crews are facing. It’s a story of grit, 40-ton steel blades, and a team that refuses to quit, even when their own homes are in the dark.

Since the storm began, a dedicated team of roughly 15 crew members has been on the front lines, working 12- to 14-hour shifts. Their days start at 5:00 AM and don't end until long after sunset.

But for many of this crew, the work doesn't end when they clock out. Many live in North Mississippi and surrounding areas that were hit harder than Collierville. They are spending their daylight hours clearing streets here, only to return to their own homes that are without power or facing significant storm damage. They are here because they care about public service.

In the video, Justin describes what he calls the "ice floor." Most people see white roads and think snow, but our crews are battling a solid sheet of ice bonded to the pavement.

Logistics of the Fight

• Fleet: We deployed 4 snow plows (2 outfitted with salt spreaders) and a 1-ton brine tank.
• Challenge: At these extreme temperatures, salt and brine often lose their effectiveness. When ice bonds to the road, even a 40-ton truck with a steel blade can’t always "peel" it back without risking permanent damage to the asphalt underneath.
• Operations: Started by salting bridges, plowing main roads, and assisting stranded motorists. The, crews expanded to secondary roads and cleared intersections on Poplar where snow had piled high.
• Small Wins: While the big trucks hit the roads, skid steers and backhoes worked tirelessly to clear fire stations, police lots, and Town parking areas so emergency services could stay mobile.

Long before the first flake fell, this team was prepping. All heavy equipment, from front-end loaders to dump trucks, was fueled and stored indoors to prevent freezing. Chainsaws were sharpened and fueled in anticipation of falling limbs, and salt/sand spreaders were calibrated and ready to roll.

We know it is frustrating to feel stuck at home and we all want to get back to our normal routines. (Believe us, we do too!) Just remember as Justin says, we are "inching our way to asphalt," and we won’t stop.