If driving in Becker and the surrounding areas was bad last week, fresh rounds of snow Monday, Tuesday and Thursday is making things even worse.

 

Several inches fell this week on top of days-old ice and snow, doubling and tripling commuter’s drive times.

 

Some motorists sat through major delays during both rush hour times during the week, and some motorists felt their vehicles leave the pavement and slam into the snowy ditches. Many white-out situations caused havoc as drivers struggled to see a few car lengths in front of them and/or see the edge of the pavement before the shoulder takes grasp of ones 4,000-lb. passenger vehicle and flings it into the snowy abyss.

 

With road conditions deteriorating, Becker Public Schools canceled classes last Friday and all after-school activities and athletic events for the fifth time this year. 

 

Snow-covered sidewalks may be the most treacherous place to be as reports of people falling to the ground, breaking bones and severely injuring joints and muscles can be attributed to this season’s blustery winter. 

 

Snowplow drivers are finding plowing roads to be just as treacherous as dunes of snow are piling up along roads, causing the roadways to narrow and passing other vehicles to be perilous. Snowclouds the trucks create can cause instant white-outs for vehicle traveling nearby, which is one of the many reasons to stay back several hundred feet from working snowplow trucks.

 

On top of that, some motorists assume since they have 4WD, AWD or winter tires, they are immune to the spinouts and slower speeds. Many forget to turn on their headlights during the day, which helps oncoming vehicles see but also the lit up taillights help motorists from behind see vehicles even before they apply their brakes.

 

The City of Becker has dispatched an armada of plows and sanders and when the temperatures rise — salt will be administered.

 

So far this season, Becker Public Works staff have had seven early starts, one late stay and four weekend reports related to snow plowing.  In 2019, public works staff have spent 547 hours plowing snow, salting/sanding roadways and other related snow removal tasks.

 

Public Works and Parks Assistant Director Chris Lisson said his staff has been out removing snow pile-ups in areas where there are safety/visibility concerns. So far the city’s trucks and equipment have held up to the task.

 

“Knock on wood, there have not been any major equipment issues this snow season,” said Lisson.  “As far as routine maintenance, a plow truck will go through a set of cutting edges about every six full days of plowing.”  

 

Lisson says that is about $3,600 per truck every six full days of plowing.  

 

“So, when there are more snow events, more operations money needs to be spent replacing these wear items,” he says.  

 

He also cautions property owners that they have 48 hours to clear the sidewalk from in front of their home or business following a snow event. Lisson says the roads have been good to clear and they really haven’t had any vehicle issues as far as on the roads, but one obstacle continues to be a burden for plow truck drivers.

 

“The biggest issue the operators have had to deal with is trash containers being placed on the road which makes snow removal much more difficult,” Lisson says.  “Public works staff greatly appreciate it when citizens keep trash containers in their driveway a foot or so back from the edge of the road.”  

 

Lisson says safe operation of plowing equipment and the safety of the public are first and foremost.  

 

“Public works staff do their best to maintain the roads and provide safe travel conditions throughout the city,” he says. 

 

Lisson also points out the salt and sand storage units seem to be holding up so far this winter season.

 

“Salt storage units are in pretty good shape.  No concerns or rationing as of now.  We are using a higher volume this year due to the ice storms and freeze/thaw events we have had.”

 

The city’s plowing procedure is to do two passes when plowing city streets.  The first pass removes the majority of the snowfall and salt/sand can be put down to help melt icy spots, Lisson says.  

 

“The second pass is to do a final clean-up/scraping and remove the snow to the curb line (as close as the operator can get to it).”  

 

Lisson says the second pass is important to mention to the public because if citizens are out cleaning their driveways following the first pass, snow from the second pass will be deposited into the driveway.  

 

“I mention this more as an FYI for residents and if the snow event lasts an extended amount of time, there may be a need for more than two passes to keep roads passable,” he says.

 

Also this week, the post office issued a statement urging residents to help clear a path free of snow and ice for the safe delivery of mail by letter carriers.

 

Typically snow from the plow trucks gets pushed up to the mailboxes and sometimes covers the boxes or the snow build-up keeps the mail trucks from accessing the boxes. They encourage all homeowners to ensure the area around the mailboxes gets cleared away and ice eradicated by salt or chipped away with an ice breaker.

 

Forecasted temperatures for the upcoming week foretell highs to be around 15-20º and lows in the lower single digits. Snow in the morning is possible for the area Sunday but is expected to be less than one inch.