Unseasonably warm temperatures delayed the Town of Westlock’s snow removal operations last week.
The town notified residents of the delay Jan. 3 via a notice on its website and social media platforms.
“Due to above-zero-degree temperatures and icy conditions, snow removal will be suspended until colder freezing temperatures prevail. Operations requires three consecutive days of temperatures below zero degrees to remove the ice in an efficient and safe manner,” the notice read.
“Snow removal will resume when we have reached said three consecutive days.”
A number of factors were considered when making the decision to put snow removal on hold, said mayor Ralph Leriger.
“My understanding from talking to public works, is that at that temperature the ice adheres very firmly to the asphalt, it doesn’t break free and it’s extremely hard on the equipment,” he said, adding there is always a risk of tearing up the pavement as well,” said Leriger.
“If it gets colder it kind of snaps and releases from the pavement.”
On some streets, the above seasonal temperatures the region experienced last week, melted all the snow and ice, while some less-used streets remain filled with ice.
“If you take a drive around town, streets that had a lot of traffic, with vehicles going back-and-forth over that slush, almost cleared themselves, whereas residential areas that have less traffic there are ruts that were down to the payment,” said Leriger.
The town apologized for the inconvenience in its notice, but Leriger reminded residents to be patient and crews will be back out on the road within days.
Snow and ice is just a fact of life, he said, reminding residents that many municipalities in the region have yet to tackle their residential areas since the last time it snowed heavily.
“I’m 60, and 100 per cent of the years I’ve been alive, I’ve experienced snow and ice. It’s not most of the time, it’s all of the time.”
Forecasts for this week call for temperatures in the -12 to -17 range.
