This early taste of spring we’re having has already started melting snow, making streets slushy and wet.
Manager of public works for the city of Timmins, Ken Krcel says workers are already out draining puddles and clearing catch basins of snow and ice. He asks that you do the same on the street outside your house. If it’s too clogged, call Service Timmins and someone will be dispatched.
“A lot of times, there’s ice buildup on top which is pretty thick and if that’s the case, we’ll go with our backhoe and we’ll remove that,” Krcel states. “I would say 80-90% of the time, that’ll relieve the problem.”
If needed, the sewer department goes out with a steam generator to free the basin of ice.
With all the water on the roads, Krcel says pedestrians and drivers have to watch out for each other.
“It’s beautiful out and people need to exercise, so you’ve got to watch for those puddles and I think as drivers, we need to be cautious for these puddles. One: you don’t want to splash any pedestrians and two: we don’t know what’s underneath them.”
Krcel adds that pothole-filling crews are already out, and will be until the end of May. And he warns heavy truck drivers that as soon as conditions warrant, reduced load restrictions will be in place on rural roads.