Drifting snow negates clearing efforts, prompts proposal for fencing review

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This article was published 21/01/2022 (1325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ON some Winnipeg roads, active transportation paths and sidewalks, as soon as city plows clear snow away, wind will often blow it right back in.

These snow drift problem spots tend to be surrounded by open fields, with at least one side that has no buildings or trees to block wind gusts and the flakes they carry. The drifts create obstacles for vehicles and bikes.

Jordan Sawatzky, a winter cyclist, said a snow drift quickly covered a key stretch of the Yellow Ribbon Greenway trail Jan. 12 and remained there for a week before crews returned to clear it off.

“We had some blowing snow and, during the night, the trail ended up being completely covered, making it impassable… It (was) completely covered for seven full days. I use that trail six days a week to commute to work and (that created a) two-kilometre detour, since I try to avoid Ness Avenue, which is very high traffic,” said Sawatzky.

Other Winnipeggers have shared similar concerns about road access and safety.

That feedback has inspired Coun. Markus Chambers to request a civic study on whether more temporary snow fences should be used to block drift-prone areas.

“When wind blows on the leeward side, (the fence) actually creates a drift… and mitigates against further drifting on… sidewalks or roadways or AT pathways,” said Chambers.

In a new motion, he calls upon city staff to review how effective the current stock of removable wood or plastic fences are in blocking snow drifts and establish a pilot project for next winter to test additional “snow fencing” at problematic areas.

Sawatzky would welcome the change alongside the Yellow Ribbon Greenway, especially between Sharp Boulevard and Whytewold Road, where one side is adjacent to a large open area.

“I’d be very supportive of that. I think, in the long run, it would save the city money if they didn’t have to send a plow through there all the time,” he said.

Dan Labossiere said a snow fence on Greenview Road would also make that street much safer and more accessible.

“The road is definitely in need of some kind of a barrier… I’ve got a four-wheel drive, three-quarter-ton truck and I got stuck on the road,” said Labossiere.

The St. Norbert-Seine River ward resident said he’s seen several feet of snow blow onto Greenview right after it was plowed on multiple occasions over the past few winters, noting there’s a large open field with no homes, trees or other barriers on one side.

A line of strategically planted trees could also offer a long-term solution to the problem, Labossiere added.

Chambers hopes a pilot project would help determine how much it would cost to expand snow fencing efforts. He’d also like to determine how much money the city could save when the fences prevent the need to re-plow chronic drift spots.

In an email, a city spokesperson said five-foot-tall snow fences made of wood or hard plastic have been used for decades at locations that are prone to drifts, with 58 current ones that cover 7,145 linear metres of public property. Parks, athletic fields, green spaces, streets, sidewalks and back lanes are among the sites protected.

The Riel Community Committee will vote on the motion Jan. 26. If approved, the public works committee will be asked to order the report.

Coun. Matt Allard, who leads the public works committee, said he supports the idea, especially the call to determine if more fencing could reduce plowing costs.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga