Road crews are preparing for another winter blast this week and cities are asking for cooperation to avoid rush hour mayhem that resulted Monday when plows, salting and sanding trucks couldn’t clean the roads fast enough to keep up with the snowfall.
TransLink is also getting ready for another busy commute and is hosting a press conference today to demonstrate how it plans to keep transit running during the snow expected possibly as soon as Thursday afternoon.
And if you haven’t got winter tires, you might want to stay off the steep hills of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody if the flurries Environment Canada is predicting wallop the region.
However, it was Monday when snow plans were needed because roads were slippery.
“During the rush hour was when it was bad because everyone is on the road trying to get up and down and they don’t have the right tires,” said James Umpleby, Coquitlam’s director of public works.
He said the trouble began when the snow started during Monday’s morning rush hour, making it difficult for the plows and sanders to clean the streets. At one time, there were six stalled cars and a bus unable to make it up Mariner Way.
Other challenging routes were Clarke Road (Snake Hill), which was temporarily closed, Gatensbury Road and Thermal Drive. Those who took rapid transit on the first regular working day of the Evergreen Extension also experienced a few snow-related delays and packed trains.
Coquitlam RCMP reported higher than average collision stats on Monday but none of the 10 incidents were serious, said Cpl. Mike McLaughlin. Traffic enforcement officers were also out issuing tickets for people who were speeding relative to the conditions.
“On a snowy, icy day, you need to slow down,” McLaughlin said. “Keep your distance. Know your car and get good snow tires on if you haven’t already. Make sure it’s in good condition and the windows are cleared.”
Above all, drivers are reminded to leave plenty of extra time to reach their destination to allow for slow-moving traffic and any additional delays, and to be patient.
Meanwhile, the cities are asking residents to clear their sidewalks of snow as soon as possible and to dump cleared snow onto their own property — not sidewalks or streets. They also ask people to park off the street if possible as cars at the roadside can hamper snow plows.
All three cities were using the break in the weather on Tuesday and Wednesday to catch up on snow clearing, sanding, salting and brining.
Umpleby said Coquitlam has up to 15 vehicles at the ready if snow returns Thursday while Port Moody has four vehicles and PoCo has dump trucks with sanders and snow plows, single-axle trucks that plough and apply brine or sand, as well as a grader, a front-end loader and two backhoes. PoCo also has an automated systems with temperature and moisture sensors to alert staff of changes to road conditions.
Public schools, meanwhile, stayed open and parents wishing the latest update are urged to log on the district’s website at www.sd43.bc.ca.
Some areas also experienced power outages Monday and Tuesday, and a few trees were felled by the snow, with residents communicating their concerns directly with the cities via Twitter.
With winter packing a punch, people are encouraged to prepare for emergencies and stock up on food and prescriptions. And, if the snow continues, the cities are asking that people shovel the walks of their elderly neighbours or, in Coquitlam, sign up for the Snow Angel program by emailing snowangels@coquitlam.ca.
