By Pepper Parr
February 5, 2013
BURLINGTON, ON.
Jeff Black, Manager of Field Services for the Roads and Parks Maintenance (RPM) department thinks he is going to get home and find that his wife has done their driveway – what do you think – is Black in for a surprise?
The RPM people have been at it all day with every piece of available equipment the city has out on the roads along with that from the contractors the city calls in on occasions like this.
Black reports that all is under control and that some of the local roads have now seen equipment. “We have managed to get some of the smaller Courts and Crescents done and with the snow fall now ended and nothing predicted for the rest of the day – it’s clean up for the smaller stretches of road.”
It was an impressive accumulation of snow. It is putting some pressure on the snow removal budget.
Primary and Secondary roads get all the attention in situations like this. The city needs three hours to get all the primary roads done – they try to get that work done before rush hour traffic which had the crews out at 3 am this morning.
Sidewalk clearing will also begin this evening.
Everyone seems to have survived – except for the planned Public Open House scheduled tonight at Appleby Ice Centre for the Burlington Transportation Master Plan and Community Trails Strategy is cancelled.
City arenas, community centres and pools, are open; Burlington Transit continues to provide service today with buses behind schedule due to wintry conditions. Handi-Van buses are also running. Please call the BusLINE at 905-639-0550 for updated information and visit www.burlington.ca/transit.
The city’s roads and parks maintenance team is clearing snow from primary roads, which will be followed by secondary and local roads beginning late afternoon and continuing overnight.
Snow is expected to continue falling until mid-afternoon, with an expected accumulation of about 20 centimetres. Northerly winds of up to 40 kilometres an hour will contribute to blowing and drifting.
Updates on winter operations are provided three times daily at 9 a.m., 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. during winter events at www.burlington.ca/snow.
For news updates, visit the following local media outlets:
Roads clearing priorities.
The listing of the local radio and television stations is a new one for the city. After their dismal performance during the ice storm one must assume there were “words” with that portion of the media. The city hopes Burlingtonians will hear more about local conditions more frequently on the air.
Jeff Black may find that his drive is in fact done. We at the Gazette are very happy that Rob and his snow blower live across the street. Our driveway is clear – thanks Rob. Beer will be in the snow for you to pick up tomorrow; pension check will be in by then.
