ESTEVAN - City of Estevan crews are clearing emergency routes Wednesday morning, as they deal with the snowstorm that arrived last night.
Norm Mack, roads and drainage manager with the City of Estevan's public works division, said there wasn't that much snow accumulated around 6 a.m. Wednesday morning when the first crews were out, but as the weather event is progressing more equipment was required.
"The roads are okay for now," Mack said around 11 a.m. Wednesday. "We're blading some snow to keep ahead of it. I don't know how much we're getting for sure, but it could be quite a bit."
The city crews won't be hauling away the snow from this storm because the dump sites are muddy, and the sun should take care of it quickly since it's mid-April. For that reason, most of the snow will be pushed to the sides, and if it gets to be so much snow that cars can't travel, then some of it will be windrowed into the middle to melt there. However, Mack noted that it was still too early to say anything for certain as the snowfall is forecasted to continue into Thursday.
"We have to see what kind of snowfall amounts we're going to get first before we make any decisions. Right now, we got all our equipment out clearing emergency routes, like the hospital area and the fire department area just to make sure that our emergency crews can get out. But we don't have that much snow yet, it's not a problem yet," Mack said. "But it won't be our regular snow removal, because of the time of year we're not hauling, so … we're hopeful that the sunshine and warmer temperatures look after it in a few days."
Over the previous couple of weeks city crews already started with spring operations, had sweepers out and ensured the drainage systems were cleared. The snow is heavy and wet, so the crews are already moving some of it to keep ahead. They will continue working throughout the day, and plan to be out early morning Thursday.
Roads are currently passable, but Mack noted that as the snowfall continues the situation may change.
"If you don't have to go somewhere [please stay home] today and especially if it keeps up like this all day long and into tonight and tomorrow, [because it] is going to be worse. It is icy in spots, and as the snow accumulates, we're going to run into trouble with vehicles moving around," Mack said.
In a Facebook post, the city said weather conditions are still quite hazardous. The city asks that the community please drive cautiously on city streets this morning and only travel when necessary.
