The aim of this e-mail is to provide an update on what is happening with Winter Control operations now and in the next 24 hours.
As was mentioned in an earlier e-mail, we are experiencing abnormal winter conditions in Guelph this year. In particular, we are seeing unusually high air temperatures, often followed by precipitation (sometimes snow) and freezing temperatures.
In the last 24 hrs we have received approximately 4 cm of new snow. The Winter Control team has cleared all arterial and collector routes. These routes are now being reported as bare and dry. Local roads (residential side streets) are still snow covered and have close to 10 cm of snow accumulation. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is very mild with rain showers followed by freezing temperatures Wednesday evening at approximately 8 pm.
Given this situation the decision has been made to go into the residential streets and plow using our own assets vice calling in contractors (the normal practice). The justification for this action is as follows:
• The possible thaw-freeze affect could cause ice ridges/dams on the residential streets as the slush turns to ice;
• The current weather means we have our own assets/manpower available to do this task; and,
• We can complete this task prior to having to deploy anti-icing units prior to the anticipated freeze-up on Wednesday evening.Please note that this service commenced earlier today and will exceed the standard that has been agreed upon by Council; however, it is my opinion that it makes sense to do so given the weather conditions, existing snow and experience from earlier years about resident’s concerns of ice ridges/dams. Staff
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This is an excellent example of why Winter Control was described as a dynamic operation during staff’s presentation to the O&T Committee at the end of last year. As we continue to get challenged by non-traditional and ever-changing weather, the importance and value of learning from experience becomes more evident. Some may recall the situation we found ourselves in a few years ago when this exact situation presented itself. A decision at that time was to wait because of the uncertainty of the pending weather. The outcome was a quick melt followed by a flash freeze. Conditions on local streets were so poor that they were almost impassable. In fact, we had to outfit a grader with an ‘ice scraper” to carve ridges smooth so as to make the streets passable. By staff acting now, this scenario and substantial cost should be avoided. Staff