By Cecilia Nasmith
Wednesday's sudden blanket of snow did not catch Northumberland County flat-footed.
“Northumberland County road operations teams are prepared to clear the way,” the county's press release said.
“County crews are ready to roll when the winter weather strikes, and are reminding motorists to adjust their driving habits in snowy conditions and be patient and alert when encountering snow-removal equipment.”
This effort involves 25 operators getting ready to provide 24/7 service on almost 500 km. of county roads to keep residents safe as they travel to where they need to go. For many weeks now, critical maintenance has been performed on trucks and anti-icing vehicles as storage domes fill up with salt and sand.
To be proactive, operators will apply a salt-brine solution to roadways ahead of snowfalls, which helps prevent the bonding of show and ice to the surface.
“Our crews gear up as quickly and efficiently as possible when snow is expected,” Associate Director of Operations Adam McCue said.
“Operations staff maintain a 24/7 weather watch and review weather reports five times a day to know when winter weather will hit. Road supervisors are also out travelling county roads day and night to check road-surface temperatures and conditions.
“During the winter months, regardless of service levels, residents are being reminded that winter weather can result in hazardous driving conditions, and to adjust their driving accordingly.”
This means adjusting your driving for the road conditions, leaving extra room in case a sudden stop is necessary, and watching for flashing lights on road equipment.
