Winter driving conditions over Thanksgiving weekend saw the City of Red Deer’s snow and ice control program kick into action several weeks earlier than normal.
Greg Sikora, public works manager, said Tuesday the snow that began on Friday was at least 20 days earlier than it has been in a few years. But they were ready because it’s not uncommon for snow to fall in October.
City crews were mobilized at 3 a.m. on the weekend, before most people were up, with de-icer applied to bridge decks, hills and major intersections, he said.
As well, throughout the snowfall, the city applied a traction control product on roadways.
The Red Deer Airport weather station reported 2.6 cm of snow on Friday and 7.8 cm on Saturday. Day-time temperatures hovered around 0 C.
Sikora said as the shoulder season moves from construction into snow, Public Works has staff monitoring ice formation, the weather and changing temperatures. They call in forces as required, which they did on the weekend.
“We watch and monitor weather, including radar, at strategic points in the day and night.”
Last year was a light year from a plowing perspective because of the mild winter but from a freeze-thaw perspective, it was a difficult year, Sikora said.
When snow melts, it freezes and roads and sidewalks can turn into a skating rink. In areas where there is high pedestrian traffic, the city is proactive in working to remove snow so it won’t melt and freeze later when temperatures drop, he said.
“Drive for the conditions please.”
Sikora said full information about the city’s snow and ice control program is available on the city’s website reddeer.ca
Al Trainor at Don’s Tire and Auto said they had been busy putting winter tires on customer vehicles prior to the weekend. And when it snows “then the panic sets in,” he said.
A good set of winter tires on a car can cost about $1,000, he said, so people are leery about putting them on too early because they don’t want them to get damaged.
As long as the pavement doesn’t retain heat, go ahead and put them on, Trainor said.
Eric Kryderman at Kal Tire on 67th Street said they had been busy for the past two weeks as well.
Then with the snow, they became really busy on the weekend, he said.
It’s recommended drivers run winter tires as soon as it drops down to about 7 C, he said.
Kryderman said a new type of tire, an all-weather with a tread-life guarantee that can be used all year long, is starting to be more popular with drivers.
The snow kept police busy on Central Alberta highways and they are still tallying the number of driving incidents that occurred over Thanksgiving.
barr@www.reddeeradvocate.com