SNOW-DAY SOLUTION?

Calcium chloride experiment will have big road clearing implications

When the snow falls, Yellowhead Trail is about as far as you can get from a winter wonderland. Just ask Manny Fuoco. “From what I see now ... the Yellowhead looks like a dump all the time,” said Fuoco, manager of XPO Logistics, a freight company located at the corner of 62 Street and the Yellowhead, where the car accidents start to pile up after a significant snowfall.

“On the Anthony Henday (Drive), you can just sweep it right off to the side — there’s no danger of error,” he said. “They do a decent job on the Henday, cleaning the snow. But they can’t do a decent job on Yellowhead. It’s extremely difficult to plow there. I don’t blame them at all.”

Edmonton’s new snow clearing plans calling for spraying Yellowhead Trail and other high-traffic routes with calcium chloride before major storms. Officials hope calcium chloride — an anti-icing spray — will be a cheaper and more effective solution, saving resources that can be redeployed for sidewalks, bike paths or residential routes.

Much of the Yellowhead lies in Ward 4 — the northeast Edmonton council seat that will see a new councillor after the Oct. 16 election. So what do Ward 4 candidates think of the plan? Where do they want to see freed-up plows focus first?

Marin Narsing, a former Canadian naval officer, thinks city crews should rely on the treatment “very sparingly,” and wondered what criteria would be used for its deployment — as well as what it would cost. He felt arterial roads leading to the Henday should be cleared first, followed by a priority list including sidewalks, residential areas and “lastly” to bike routes. He also wondered about the potential costs related to corrosion.

Alison Poste, who works in real estate and land development, said calcium chloride has proven to be an effective strategy, particularly at lower temperatures to prevent ice formation and to de-ice roads. But she said the treatment has been linked to concrete degradation, as opposed to a magnesium chloride formulation.

“As a cost-saving measure, I would like to see this implemented on high traffic routes (including a plan to address long-term concrete degradation) so city crews can focus on neighbourhood collector roads and streets,” she said.

Tricia Velthuizen, a political staffer running for the seat, said the focus should be on main arterials, as well as bus routes and school zones. She also said when such clearing rolls out, “it needs to be balanced throughout the city: often easier said than done due to the numbers of machines and equipment available.”

Rocco Caterina, who before running for Ward 4 managed his father Tony Caterina’s council office, said he was happy to see the city exploring a potentially more efficient method of snow removal, saying it appears to have worked well on the Anthony Henday.

“If this does end up freeing up resources, I feel the focus should be on better snow removal for residential routes, with serious consideration for the removal of windrows. “

Felix Amenaghawon, an engineer, said high-traffic routes such as the Yellowhead should get priority.

Beatrice Ghettuba, a former federal Liberal candidate, said she would prioritize sidewalks, bike path and residential routes — in that order.

“This is not about who makes the loudest noise, for then the order of priority would be reversed,” she said. “The consideration is safety to the most vulnerable/users.”

Emerson Mayers, a registered nurse, said bridges should be a priority, as well as highway ramps and steep hills. Within the ward, he said Manning Drive and the Anthony Henday are areas of concern.

Sam Hachem, who ran against departing councillor Ed Gibbons in the 2013 election, said he supported de-icing so long as it doesn’t impact the environment. He also has heard complaints from residents who can’t get out of their neighbourhoods after major storms.

“Generally, we don’t have that same problem on major roads because they are more utilized and therefore have less snow buildup due to constant vehicles driving along them. I’d say yes to being able to put more resources into the neighbourhoods, no doubt.” Justin Draper, a former student politician, said high-use roads should be the priority, followed by transit routes and park-and-rides.

“Public transit sites are also one of the first priorities, ensuring that people who are choosing to take public transit can access it safely and that transit can move around the city effectively,” he said. “From there, we really need to make sure people can access their own communities.”

Candidates Aaron Paquette, Wade Izzard and Hassan Haymour did not respond.

The Yellowhead looks like a (snow) dump all the time.