Crews at Work Clearing Roads

Staff from Nova Scotia’s Transportation and Public Works Department are asking the public to be patient and to stay at home until roads and highways are clear.

Due to the severity of the storm and record snow falls, it could be Monday, Feb. 23, in some areas before crews reach local roads. All 100-series highways are now open and drivers are reminded to use caution. Crews are working as quickly as possible to make all roads clear for motorists.

“Our first priority is to work with Nova Scotia’s 911 service, Nova Scotia Power, and the Emergency Measures Organization, to respond to serious emergencies and life-threatening situations,” said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. “Unless there’s an emergency, we ask that drivers stay off the road until our crews finish their work.”

The department is concentrating on 100-series highways, main arteries and emergency routes first, then secondary trunks and routes, and finally local roads. This is the standard priority for clearing provincial roads.

The department will respond to individual calls from the public when conditions improve.

In addition to the province’s 1,000 member crew and 400 plows already working on snow and ice control on our highways, the department is bringing in up to 12 snowplows and seven snowblowers from New Brunswick’s Department of Transportation, and hired private contractors to assist.

The department provides updated road condition reports three times a day, seven days a week in winter by calling toll-free 1- 800-307-SNOW (7669), or 902-424-3933 in Halifax Regional Municipality. The service is also available online at www.gov.ns.ca/tran .

The province is responsible for 23,000 kilometres of roads and highways, and spends between $36 million and $40 million a year on snow and ice removal.