With the significant snowfall, many Cities are asking for the patience of residents as crews work around the clock to clear local roadways.
Director of municipal services for the City of Williams Lake Gary Muraca says when there is snowfall they focus on the priority routes adding that it will absolutely take some time to dig ourselves out.
“We’re not going to be able to get down and remove snow from parking areas or into residential until we can ensure people can navigate their way through town. So until the snow stops then allows us to get off the routes off our sand trucks and into equipment to pick up snow and haul it away, we’re going to have to be patient.”
Muraca says that they have 12 street staff and that they are also pulling staff from various departments to assist with the removal.
“It’s all hands on deck right now. Anybody that can drive a piece of equipment is out in a piece equipment,” says Muraca noting everyone is working 12-hour shifts instead of the usual 8 hours to catch up.
“They’re doing everything they can.”
The City of Williams Lake is asking for the public’s assistance during this time of heavy snowfall by not parking vehicles along the side of the roads during snow clearing operations, so that plows can access the entire roadway.
“The snow plowing equipment has to go around it, and then try to get as close as they can,” explains Muraca.
“It causes potential risk and it does delay us when we can go straight down the road and just plow the road, it goes a lot quicker. A lot of our efforts are wasted driving around obstacles.”
Vehicles impeding snow removal may be subjected to towing.
As garbage and recycling carts also impede snow removal, the City also asks to not put your cart out on the curb the night before.
Snow removal is expected to continue throughout the weekend.