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Winter driving

City crews struggle to get a handle on icy roads

Feb 13, 2019 | 2:00 PM

If roads and intersections around Prince Albert appear icier than normal, it’s because they are according to the city’s roadways manager.

Brent Kennedy said the recent cold snap has made work almost impossible for the city’s sanding crews.

“We have sanders out every day but due to the cold temperatures, a lot of the material does not work effectively, so essentially we are going out sanding then going back out a couple hours later to re-do it,” he said.

Kennedy said the ideal temperature for their products to work is -15 C but added with the sun out, they could break down some of the ice if the temperatures even warmed up to -20 C.

An example of the extremely icy conditions was seen Tuesday afternoon, when a police vehicle heading east on 15th Street lost control near the Shell gas station and ended up on the embankment. A tow truck was required to help free the vehicle. Kennedy said all drivers need to slow down around the city.

“I think people have to be really cautious with their driving habits when the roads are like this. I mean you’ve got to slow down and be more cautious,” Kennedy said.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

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