Speedway Street Department Acquires New Equipment Focused on Safety and Efficiency

Maintaining the landscape along I-465’s heavily traveled roadway can be a dangerous job. The Town of Speedway recently invested in a remote-control mower that is intended to improve both safety and efficiency for the Speedway Street Department who maintains this area of mowing.

“The safety of our Town employees is a priority,” said Street Superintendent Rob Wetnight. “The landscape inclines along I-465, as well as the B&O Trail, can be quite challenging.”

Safety is a huge concern for any operator who is mowing steep slopes. A riding mower is at risk for tipping over if the incline angles become too steep for the mower to maneuver. With a remote-control mower, the operator can safely mow a steep incline or embankment with less risk. A remote-control mower is compact yet powerful enough to offer full functionality with enhanced safety features. The mower operates just like a remote-control car and can be maneuvered from a safe distance away from the mowing.

“In addition to having this safer mowing option, we also hope to gain work efficiency with this purchase,” said Wetnight. Using the previous mower, one person would spend 7-8 days to complete the work along the B&O Trail. The Town anticipates this timing to improve significantly.

Along with the remote-control mower, two smaller, traditional mowers were purchased; these are the first new mowers the Town has acquired in over a decade. A new asphalt roller was also added to the department, replacing the 1972 model currently being used. The asphalt roller is used for street repairs to achieve maximum smoothness after repairs are completed.