As April approaches, Public Works is gearing up for the Annual Spring Sweeping Program. This program is designed to blitz city streets in order to clean up accumulated sand from winter control operations. In conjunction with the implementation of the sweeping program, Public Works Road staff will transition from a three shift rotational pattern, (7/24), which has been in place since late November 2011, to a two shift rotational pattern, (5/16), thereby eliminating the night and weekend shifts coverage.
Sweeping operations will begin on Monday, April 2 and continue for approximately two weeks, (weather permitting) until Friday, April 13. The program will utilize one city crew and 3 contractor crews operating simultaneously. A media campaign including radio ads, newspaper ads, web content, social media and recent newspaper interviews (Guelph Tribune) serve to get the message out to the public. In addition, local residents are being notified by door leaflets of interim material holding sites in their areas, which are being implemented to reduce program operating costs.
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Having said the above…it appears that winter is still hanging on by a thread…
An approaching snow event is expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon, Friday, March 30. The event is expected to deliver 5cm of snow mixed with ice pellets. The good news is that immediately after the event, the long range forecast is for temperatures to rise to above normal conditions to 11-15C day time highs.
Public Works began preparing for the event’s impending arrival this morning by applying anti-icing liquid salt brine to all designated high priority salt routes and known ice susceptible areas. The road temperatures remain high which will help in the dissipation of any snow.
All roads winter control equipment, including sidewalk and park facility plows are being readied for action. Staff are ready to address the expected snow precipitation and will continue their activities until the event subsides and all areas under our jurisdiction are plowed and treated. Staff