(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Tough Driving Conditions

P.A. tow truck operator believes warm weather will melt ruts soon, city turns attention to catch basin clearing

Mar 22, 2022 | 6:00 PM

The ruts causing many Prince Albert drivers headaches should be gone soon.

That’s the hope for Danny Goodwin, the owner of Gateway North Towing, who said the last couple of days has been some of the busiest he’s had in quite some time.

Most of the calls his company has been getting are for people stuck in back alleys and on side streets as the recent warm weather has been melting away the snow left on these roads.

“Phones ringing, without a joke, probably two to three times every hour,” said Goodwin.

The spring breakup is usually one of the busiest times of the year for tow truck operators, however, the amount of snow the city has received over the past few months has made this year’s melt slower and tougher to get through.

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Goodwin believes it shouldn’t be too long before drivers can stop worrying about getting stuck.

“Another four or five nice days of weather and we should be over the hump for these ruts and people should be able to get down back alleys again.”

He adds city crews and private contractors are doing the best job they can considering the amount of snow P.A. has received.

Meanwhile, the city will be relying on the weather to melt the snow as they’re turning their attention away from lifting it to thawing frozen catch basins.

In a release, they note snow dumps have become too muddy for the tandem trucks to get in and out. Crews will still grade some residential streets and plow some back lanes that have bad ruts.

As for the catch basins, across P.A. there are 2,569 of these pits and it can take anywhere between 15 min to two hours to thaw.

Those who notice a frozen one can call public works at (306) 953-4900.

Mayor Greg Dionne said in a statement city crews are working extremely hard to clear all roads and alleys.

“In 2022 the snow has been relentless. Crews put in long hours and that’s just the reality of what was required.”

After crews are done clearing snow, attention will go towards potholes.

They’re usually created when snow and water sip into cracks in the pavement and expand when temperatures start to freeze.

The city is asking residents to report any potholes they spot through their website.

Just like when plowing streets, priority will go to high traffic, arterial roadways followed by school zones and bus routes, the central avenue business district, and finally residential areas.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow