‘Ottawa’ City of Ottawa Crews Work into Night to Clear icy Sidewalks and Streets
City road crews were working into the night on Tuesday trying to clear icy residential streets and sidewalks after freezing rain coated the city on Boxing Day.
Luc Gagne, the city’s director of road services, said major roads and sidewalks were in good shape — “mostly bare and dry” — by Tuesday afternoon, but that more work needed to be done on residential streets and sidewalks.
An evening crew was heading out at 7 p.m.
Ice storms are among the biggest challenges for city road crews, he said: “They cover the entire transportation network in really a matter of minutes as an event goes through the city. It is almost instantaneous.”
In addition, freezing rain, or water that then freezes, bonds to sidewalks and roads, making it difficult for equipment to clear it.