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Speeding up the snow clearing process in North Battleford

Jan 31, 2016 | 9:58 AM

North Battleford is bringing out the big guns when it comes to snow removal.

The city has deployed a brand new industrial strength snow blower which has sped up the process considerably.

According to a release from the city, crews were able to clear 100th, 102nd, and 103rd streets, as well as 11th and 10th Avenue in a matter of four hours. The job would previously have taken two days.

North Battleford communications coordinator Susanne Abe said the blower is attached to the front of tractor and in tandem with a truck can quickly clear the mounds of snow left over from the plows.

“In the past they used the front end loader to pick up the snow, or the windrows, and then load the snow onto the truck. Now they can actually drive along the windrow and pick up the snow,” explains Abe.

She added notifications will be sent out by the city when the equipment is in use, but said drivers should keep an eye out for detours.

“Since this is sort of a tandem system, there’s the snow blower and there’s the truck accompanying, it will take up basically the whole street, so the street will be closed.”

The LM 220 loader-mounted snow blower was purchased in the spring and arrived in the fall. Crews received training for the blower on Jan. 14th.

 

cstockwell@jpbg.ca