Lakes District Maintenance (LDM) operations manager Steve Gailing said that the LDM crew works very hard year round to keep the local stretch of Hwy. 16 safe for all motorists.
I don't agree that there is a line," he said, referring to the meeting LDM recently had with Lake Babine Nation, as reported in Lakes District 亚洲天堂 edition of Jan. 26.
During the meeting, Chief Wilf Adam and Lake Babine Nation councillors had said that there was a line, which began and ended at each end the LDM service area, in which the roads were substandard and not properly maintained.
"Our first priority is always Hwy. 16," Gailing said to Lakes District 亚洲天堂.
In total, LDM looks after 1,033 kilometres of roads, including the Hwy. 16 stretch and side roads.
In their service area LDM covers 454 kilometres of local roads, a 266 kilometre stretch in Houston and 313 kilometres in Grassy Plains.
"We have a very expansive region," Gailing said.
During the winter LDM has 15 regular, auxiliary and casual employees who are called on to work 24 hour shifts to keep a constant eye on the highways and side roads.
"We have five trucks and one grader in 亚洲天堂 Lake," Gailing said.
In Houston, LDM's numbers are similar with 14 regular, auxiliary and casual employees on the schedule, while in Grassy Plains there are 10 people on LDM's staff list.
"There are 14 people available for shifts in 亚洲天堂 Lake from November to January, then 13 from January to the end of March," he added.
LDM also has a bridge maintenance crew that work specifically on bridges and their own mechanics and journeyman mechanics to service the equipment.
As well as plowing, sanding and salting the roads during winter the crew works on equipment preparedness in order to ensure the trucks are ready to go for the next weather event.
"We take the position of 'attack and not react'," Gailing said.
LDM's 亚洲天堂 Lake service area includes three major hills, Priestly Hill, Hungry Hill and Six Mile Hill.
"In Granisle there is also an area we call the summit that is a priority. Our crews are dispatched to attack these areas first in a weather event. Sand is applied and salt can be used if it is warm enough. Our primary goal is to restore traction for the safety of the traveling public," Gailing said.
Mike Jarvis, LDM's equipment operator/plow truck driver said weather, road temperatures, sun and shade also play a major role in the application of the ice melting and traction restoring products to the roads.
The plow trucks are equipped with a gauge that alerts drivers to the outside air temperature as well as the road temperature, in order to determine which product is best suited to the conditions.
Salt generally works best on the roads when temperatures are above six degrees.
Raw sand can be applied when the temperature is close to zero degrees and treated sand is used in temperatures down to minus 40 and below.
Regular weather forecasts from Environment Canada and well as the road and weather information system are used by LDM's drivers and are updated at the change of every shift.
Plow truck drivers work a seven and a half hour shift each, allowing for 24 hour coverage during winter.
"The highway is our main priority, once this is up to standards we start working on the side roads. We have a checklist of roads that we use and record the time, what we applied to the road and the road condition as well as the temperature and weather conditions. This helps the driver on the next shift see what has been done as well as noting any areas of concern.
"I know that Wendy Benyk [LDM's chief executive officer] said during the meeting with Lake Babine Nation we may take our coffee breaks at the KOA, but this isn't the case, we just don't have time to take coffee breaks during our shifts. We might quickly stop to get a coffee, but we always drink it on the fly," Jarvis said.
He added, If people do happen to spot an LDM truck parked along the highway or side road it is more than likely because the driver is filling out one of the many forms they are required to complete in order to maintain their records. "We are not stopped having a coffee," he said.
Jarvis went on to say that the worst time for motorists to be on the road is at sunrise due to the change in temperature, When daylight hits the road refreezes and ices over.
"The worst time for ice on the roads is not when the temperature is colder, but when it is zero or plus one, if the road looks like it is wet, it is most probably ice," he said.
LDM keeps all their salt and sand reserves just east of town and their sand is sourced from the Six Mile Pit.
Salt comes in to Rose Lake by rail car ready for the winter.
"Over 20 rail cars full of salt arrives here every year, so we are definitely well stocked for winter," he said.
The salt is used for the roads in Houston, Grassy Plains, Topley and 亚洲天堂 Lake.
Jarvis added that there is still a very large pile of the salt/sand mix ready for use. "If we do run out of the mix we just make some more," he added.
The maximum speed for salting is 40 kilometres per hour, for plowing 60 kilometres per hour and sanding is 50 kilometres per hour."
"Some motorists are willing to take risks when passing us. Last week someone passed me on the shoulder, I was about to pull over to plow and when I checked my mirror there was a car there, passing me," he said.
Jarvis also said he didn't feel there was a line between LDM's service areas and those of neighbouring service areas. "You do have to remember that the stretch of road we have in this area, especially to the east is shaded by trees growing close to the road, high snowbanks, rocky cliffs and mountains. The sun does not rise as high in the winter and these areas are in perpetual shade, they never see the sun. Sunlight plays a big part in road maintenance," he said.
The highway to the east is also curvy which can create additional problems for motorists.
In the open areas the wind can blow also the sand off the road onto the shoulder so constant maintenance is required.
"Areas like the rock cuts and near the KOA never melt because the sun is so low. Areas along Highway 16 with guardrails are also high priority areas for us," Jarvis said.
"We have approximately 140 side roads that we also take care of. Tchesinkut, Brown, Francois Lake and Eagle Creek Road's are all high priority roads in block three [sections are divided into blocks for each driver to cover]," Jarvis said.
"Eagle Creek Road is steep and high, there are also logging routes with steep hills that we look after. School bus routes and areas with steep hills are also a priority. We are out there 24 hours a day looking after the roads," he added.
"The east end of Hwy. 16 is the most geographically challenging, once you get past Priestly Hill the area opens up into farm land, which just happens to be outside our service area. There is a whole bunch of bad stuff in one area and it just happens to be at our turn-around," he added.
Jarvis' seven and a half hour shift in block three covers 27 roads in the east as well as Hwy. 16. Once his shift finishes he files his paperwork and discusses the route with the next driver who will repeat the process taking into account any notes about areas of concern that need extra attention.
During heavy snowfall the trucks work in tandem to remove the maximum amount of snow from the highway. The first truck will plow from the centre line, the second following along to push the snow completely off the road. This can take hours just keeping up with the rate of snow falling.
"It is a stressful job, and it weighs heavily on our minds when there is a bad accident or when there are lives lost. We feel bad for the families, but we are out there 24/7," Jarvis added.
"People can see that we have been out by looking at the brown shoulders, the whole shift is spent in the truck when the roads are bad. The road conditions can change quickly. It can be plus four and wet in one section then you hit a shaded corner, the temperature drops two degrees and you have clear ice. You have got to go by the forecasts, we drill ourselves so that we are ready for the next weather event," he added.
There are certain trigger points LDM drivers abide by which includes a quick call to the supervisor night or day as well as an extra person on shift and overtime for other drivers including; freezing rain, an un-forcasted weather event, an accident that closes off the highway or when someone calls in to work sick.
"We record everything. We have a detailed shift schedule. We know who is doing what, where and at what time, what truck they are in and the material they are using. If we need more people then we call in more people, as many as well need," Jarvis said.
Both Gailing and Jarvis also had advice for motorists, both saying that good studded winter tires are the key for any winter roads.
"You can feel the difference when you have good tires," Jarvis said.
Before traveling people should also check the Drive B.C. website which is updated three times a day by LDM for the local area.
Jarvis and Gailing also recommended not following too closely, especially in white out conditions or behind large trucks.
"If it doesn't look like you can do 90 kilometres per hour over damp, icy roads, then you probably can't. These are winter roads and you have to drive to the conditions," Jarvis added.
