ItB次元官网网址檚 not everyday that it snows in Greater Victoria but when it does, there are crews around the region at the ready.
Mainroad South Island Contracting LP has been gearing up for winter since September, preparing for what theyB次元官网网址檙e predicting will be a season similar to last year.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e ready for whatever winter has to throw at us,B次元官网网址� said operations manager Leon Bohmer.
Just entering the 14th year of a 15-year contract with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Mainroad is responsible for the provinceB次元官网网址檚 highways and roadways on south Vancouver Island from the Saanich Peninsula to Chemainus, including the West Shore, Port Renfrew, Sooke, Lake Cowichan and six Southern Gulf Islands. Mainroad is not responsible for strata roads or other roadways within municipal boundaries.
But the company doesnB次元官网网址檛 just focus on keeping the roads clear. TheyB次元官网网址檙e also working to educate the public about winter driving.
B次元官网网址淲hen it snows itB次元官网网址檚 a wake up call to everyone B次元官网网址� It takes an inch and this town becomes immobilized,B次元官网网址� said general manager Rick Gill. B次元官网网址淭he safety of the travelling public is of the utmost importance to us.B次元官网网址�
With the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Shift into Winter campaign starting to gain some traction locally, Gill noted theyB次元官网网址檙e really trying to educate the public about tire requirements and other safety measures that should be utilized during the winter months. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really encouraging that B次元官网网址� you could see more enforcement this year,B次元官网网址� he hinted.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a difficult mindset change for people here,B次元官网网址� Gill explained. B次元官网网址淸But] itB次元官网网址檚 just about driving to the conditions B次元官网网址� everything stops the same [when itB次元官网网址檚 icy] B次元官网网址� they donB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�
When the region does get snow, Mainroad crews are distributed to routes based on a priority system that sees major highways cleared first, followed by collector and bus routes. B次元官网网址淥nce we get on top of those we can get into the subdivisions,B次元官网网址� Gill explained.
He recalled one winter that was particularly bad. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 around the clock, 24-7 B次元官网网址� That year I had a whole bunch of staff that didnB次元官网网址檛 take Christmas.B次元官网网址� On Christmas Eve, he remembered receiving a call from a woman that was concerned her road wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be cleared before crews left for the night. B次元官网网址淚 said B次元官网网址楳am, weB次元官网网址檙e not going home.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Crews carefully monitor roadways, including a number of problem areas that are known to have their own micro-climate or can been treacherous. Three of those areas are the Malahat, the four-lane stretch of Highway 14 in Langford, and the section of Highway 17 between Island View Road and Tanner Road in Central Saanich.
The trucks are equipped with sensors that alert drivers to what the air and roadway temperatures are. Employees are also given hand-held devices so they can make informed decisions on how to treat the roads.
During an average winter Mainroad utilizes about 40 pieces of equipment with roughly 80 employees distributing more than 4,000 tonnes of de-icing salt, 8,000 tonnes of sand and two million litres of anti-icing brine.
B次元官网网址淭he ice is actually worse B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檇 almost prefer to be in a snow zone,B次元官网网址� Gill said.
With that in mind, brine is their biggest tool in the kit.
B次元官网网址淲e kind of see it as a security blanket B次元官网网址� We can get three to five days out of a single brine application,B次元官网网址� Bohmer said, clarifying that is dependent on the weather and if it rains the brine wonB次元官网网址檛 last. But he did note that if itB次元官网网址檚 clear brine can last up to a week. It also provides a barrier under the snow.
Gill added B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 never perfect but it gives that comfort area.B次元官网网址�
Unlike salt, which can be redistributed off roadways by other vehicles, brine can be applied when itB次元官网网址檚 dry and will still stick to the roadway so if there is any precipitation or moisture in the air, it prevents that from freezing.
If you see an issue on a south Island highway, you can report it by calling 1-877-391-7310.
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