(Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Slippery conditions

Fluctuating weather causes icy conditions on local streets

Jan 21, 2025 | 12:20 PM

The City of Melfort and other local municipalities are facing the challenges fluctuating weather brings.

Director of Public Works Kalyna Cipywnyk said ice build-up on roads is always a challenge during the winter, but especially during the extreme temperature variations.

“Crews focus their attention on clearing the high traffic intersections and the highways of ice as it is at these locations that we see the most issues and potential for vehicle accidents,” Cipywnyk told northeastNOW. “The biggest challenge is determining when it is appropriate to apply sand/salt vs scraping down the ice, as these methods are more effective in different types of weather.”

The town does apply a sand and salt mixture to roads to improve traction for vehicles, with the salt melting the snow and ice enough for the sand to stick. Cipywnyk said when the temperatures fall, the salt requires longer contact with the ice to melt it sufficiently.

“This longer activation timeframe in cold weather means that there is a higher chance of the sand and salt mixture being pushed away from the driving lanes by traffic, which reduces the effectiveness of the mixture,” Cipywnyk explained.

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The application of salt and sand to the streets usually takes place during off-peak hours in the early morning and afternoons to allow the salt enough time to make contact with the ice. Cipywnyk said the city is asking residents to take care while driving and walking around the city due to the conditions.

City crews are well underway removing the recent snow, with Main Street scraped on Sunday and the snow also removed elsewhere in the downtown core. Cipywnyk said the city has been preparing for snowfall since the two major snowstorms in November.

Despite the extreme fluctuations in temperatures, crews in Melfort have not had to respond to a major watermain issue this winter. Cipywnyk said crews “are prepared to address it immediately should one occur.”

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com