OLDS — Lately, I've been really impressed with how quickly Olds operations crews have spread sand or gravel on major arteries to provide traction for drivers after snowfalls.
Local contractors who help haul that snow away in big trucks are to be lauded too.
But it’s not easy, especially in frigid conditions like the Christmas-time cold snap when temperatures plunged below –30. In those conditions, equipment can freeze up fast (as can the workers) making those operations very difficult.
Operations director Scott Greico says crews are ready to begin spreading that stuff on short notice.
“We keep the sand and salt for the roads in a dry shed and the trucks are always loaded ready to go,” he wrote in an email.
“On nights and weekends we have on-call staff ready to go out when needed. When we schedule snow removal the crew starts early at 3 a.m.,” he added.
It’s a big job, which is largely taken for granted by the public.
Next time you see a truck sanding or gravelling our streets and roads or hauling snow away from there, give the drivers a wave.
They deserve it.
