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Iqaluit council ponders snow removal

JIM BELL

Iqaluit’s recent snow storms are forcing city employees to work flat out this week. FILE PHOTO)

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Mark Hall, the director of public works, said in a report to council that city workers have been labouring flat out for days to get caught up on snow removal work.

And he said that, right now, private contractors in the city have no heavy equipment that the city can lease as a back up.

That’s because they’re all busy clearing snow for other clients. One contractor said he is “1,000 loads behind,” Hall said.

To prepare for a warming trend later this week that might even produce rain and melting snow, Hall said the city will do a massive “pull-off” of excess snow from around town over the next week to clear ditches in anticipation of more run-off.

Coun. Stuart Kennedy suggested that city staff think about creating a shift of snow removal workers that would start at 4:00 a.m., so that all streets are fully cleared by the time people drive to work between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

Right now many motorists are on the road at the same time as city snow removal crews.

Other councillors suggested ways of making the roads safer.

“The roads are slippier than snot on a rooster’s lip,” Coun. Glenn Williams declared.

Williams suggested that the city use calcium chloride at major intersection to combat icing that builds up when vehicles are constantly stopping and starting at certain areas.

Calcium chloride is a simple chemical that’s widely used throughout North America as an ice-melter on roads in the winter, and to control dust in the summer.

Coun. Nancy Gillis said there are parts of the road system that she’s scared to drive on now because snow conditions are so bad.

Other councillors suggested the city do more sanding to improve vehicle traction.

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