(NIcole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Nicole Reis

Snow Removal

Public Works combating snow removal amid morning crashes

Jan 9, 2020 | 1:42 PM

Meadow Lake experienced less snow than forecasted this morning, although road conditions were a factor of frustration for some.

Public Works Manager Mike Morrant told meadowlakeNOW snow removal crews were out plowing sidewalks at 3 a.m. and grader trucks were out at 5 a.m. to combat the snowy roads.

“Priority routes are Centre Street, 1^st and 2^nd Ave., hospital routes and school routes, Railway Ave. and service routes,” Morrant said.

Meadow Lake RCMP reported two incidents that affected the City’s snow removal operations. One being an abandoned truck at the Centre street horse monument and a collision between a minivan and an R.M. snow grader in front of PineRidge Ford.

Officers said highway 4 south was closed this morning at approximately 8:15 a.m. for about 45 minutes to remove the vehicles.

Health alerts

Sask NDP sound alarm over TB cases in northern Saskatchewan

13h ago

PYSANKY EASTER EGGS

"It's special to pass this on": Saskatchewan family celebrates Ukrainian Easter heritage

13h ago

BUSTED

Man charged after fleeing from RCMP on dirtbike in Onion Lake

14h ago

(Nicole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

Weather and road conditions were believed to be the cause but those matters are still under investigation.

Morrant said this time of year can be frustrating for snow removal crews as the public is often hurrying to get to work or to get children to school.

“We’ve got signs and lights, stay back 100 feet and give us room to work, that’s the biggest issue,” Morrant said.

Mounds of snow are in the middle of Centre Street and Morrant said trucks will take the snow over to stampede grounds to build for an upcoming festival.

School buses in cold weather

When severe winter weather happens, student transportation could be cancelled.

“Our expectation for our buses and transportation service is, if the temperature is colder than -40 degrees or severe wind chill at or colder than -45 degrees, at 7 a.m. buses would not run where temperatures are that cold,” said Kaitlin Harman, communications officer with Northwest School Division.

If there is a school bus cancellation, the call to cancel must be made by 7 a.m. to notify parents in advance.

“Bus drivers will contact families directly for rural routes though the urban bus is slightly different and we announce those cancellations through our Facebook page and through social media,” Harman said

If temperatures happen to cool later in the day, the school board said they’ll do their best to make the bus routes run.

—

nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722