Snow removal being stepped up after further dump

Photo:  The City was able to clear the windrow on 100th ave from 100th street to 86th street Thursday morning – Adam Reaburn/Energeticcity.ca

The City of Fort St. John and surrounding areas have seen more than 20 centimetres of snow in the past week, including a further snowfall Wednesday night making driving conditions difficult.

With the new snowfall, snow removal crews have had to go out again to priority 1 and 2 areas, says Don Demers, the city’s director of public works and utilities. The priority areas include main thoroughfares and bus routes.

Demers says crews will also be trying to remove the large windrows from 100 Ave. and 100 St. to open up the lanes. The windrow removal will also, in turn, increase driver visibility.

He also says two sidewalk machines are out trying to clear as many sidewalks as possible, but specifically concentrating on the City’s downtown and school routes.

Residential streets are expected to be plowed starting Thursday afternoon, with crews working through the night. Demers says the City will be starting in the northwest corner – north of 100 Ave and west of 100 St. – and is asking residents to park their vehicles off the streets, especially in that area.

The large dump of snow has not only buried cars but also fire hydrants, which Demers says crews will also be out trying to clear as part of their snow removal routine.