First in Service, Equipment, Attitude

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--First in Service, Equipment, Attitude

The Department of Transportation and Public Works is gearing up for winter with new maintenance standards, equipment and high- tech road sensors, all designed to improve public safety.

For the first time, the department has established provincewide winter service levels or standards that will dictate the maximum time allowed to clear roads of snow and ice and how much salt and sand will be applied.

"The department has always placed a priority on its high-quality winter service," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "These new service levels will provide consistent criteria for the entire province and ensure that our history of quality winter maintenance continues."

The new standards will also allow the department to use road salt responsibly and appropriately while maintaining public safety. Environment Canada may declare road salt a CEPA (Canadian Environmental Protection Act) toxic substance, and governments across Canada will be expected to reduce overall salt use.

The department has also purchased new equipment to better handle winter snow. Fourteen new plows and salt trucks and one new grader will be in service this winter. The department's fleet has about 400 units.

As well, the department has retro-fitted more than a dozen plows to pre-wet the salt, making it easier for salt to stick to the pavement. The department experimented with pre-wetting of salt last year and these trials indicated that it reduced salt use by 25 to 30 per cent in ideal conditions, 10 to 15 per cent overall.

High-tech equipment is also being used to control snow and ice. Seven new RWIS (Road Weather Information System) stations will be installed along major highways, bringing the number of stations to 13. These towers supply up-to-the-minute weather forecasts and road temperatures, allowing staff to base decisions about salting on the latest information.

Salt and sand supplies are also being stockpiled at the department's 57 domes, silos and sheds across the province. On average, the department uses about 260,000 tonnes of salt annually. The department's budget for winter snow and ice removal is about $31 million a year.

"We appreciate the efforts of our winter maintenance crews, who do outstanding work each winter in very difficult weather conditions," said the minister. "Drivers can help by gearing their speed to the road conditions."

Returning on Nov. 26 is the winter road report. Drivers will be able to receive updates on road conditions and weather through the Internet by going to www.gov.ns.ca/tran/ or by calling toll- free 1-800-307-SNOW (7669).