The Art Of Plowing Roadways In Cobourg
Video from ridealong http://nesphotos.zenfolio.com/p509885566
They are the ones you curse at but without them the town would be at a standstill during a snowstorm.
Today’s Northumberland went for a ridealong with the Town of Cobourg Public Works Department keeping the towns streets cleared in the early hours of January 29, 2019.
Public Works operates six snowplows, two sidewalk machines, two loaders, one grader, one back hoe, one skid steer and two pickup trucks with plows on the front.
The forecast called for a major snowfall, but by the morning light, it didn’t seem Cobourg got hit as much as other areas of Ontario.
Manager of Roads, Ted Sokay was patrolling local roadways in town on Monday night waiting for the snow to hit.
“We get (weather) reports four times a day and we monitor those, but as soon as the snow comes we’ll go out and monitor the roads,” said Sokay.
With the snow building on the roads a crew of four was called in around 11 p.m. to the Public Works Department at Northam Industrial Park to start plowing and salting.
There is a total of 13-plow operators working the roads when a storm hits.
Typically in a storm during the night, four plows will be sent out.
It’s the law that drivers can only drive 13-hours in a 24-hour period and they need maximum eight-hours rest time. A total of 10-hours rest, but eight has to be consecutive.
Sokay said with the staff already putting in 8.5 hours during the day, they can only work 4.5 hours during the night, then staff need another eight hours off consecutively.
“It’s a juggling act with 13 staff for sure,” said Sokay.
“We’re out 24/7 in a big storm and people like to see us come down the road, but they don’t like to see the snow at the end of their driveway.”
“Unfortunately it’s unavoidable.”
People have thrown shovels, given the finger, yelled at the plow drivers as they pass by filling in the recently plowed driveway. For the non-believers the plow drivers don’t sit around the corner and wait for you to complete your driveway before coming down the street the minute you are walking away.
“These plows throw the snow to one side, and unfortunately the driveways are on that side,” said Sokay.
Plows first concentrate on the arterial (main) and collector roads first which are essentially the bus routes.
From 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. there is a no parking winter by-law on arterial and collector roads, but during the daytime Sokay said it helps if people can park in their driveways.
“Night time isn’t too difficult because there is very little traffic, but in the daytime there are parked cars, vehicles, equipment, pedestrians, so it’s more challenging.”
Residential streets bring a unique set of challenges because the plow drivers have to navigate vehicles that are parked opposite of each other on the streets.
“Lots of times out equipment can’t clear it and we have to send a smaller truck.”
With the front blade spanning 12 feet and the wing attached is 13 feet with the angles of the blade, the operator is clearing approximately 20 feet.
The spinners dispersing the salt truck they are very accurate from what they were years ago.
“They are very versatile so you can direct the spinner spread to the left, to the right and in the centre and intersections and you can control the amount of salt being dispersed.”
Today’s Northumberland was paired up with six-year veteran plow operator Clay Bevan for the night.
“You have to keep your eyes everywhere,” Bevan said while plowing King Street in downtown.
With a multitude of levers and dials controlling everything from the amount of salt, to the angle of the plows, there is a lot of work and concentration going on in the cab that resembles the cockpit of a small aircraft.
A GPS (Global Positioning System) on each of the plows indicates the speed of the plow, where the plow is down, how much salt is being dispersed. It helps Sokay regarding which roads have been done, how frequently and also assists when someone phones stating their road hasn’t been plowed.
Along with the salt, all six plow trucks are equipped with a salt brine which they make in-house. The brine is a salt/water mix so when the salt comes off the truck a fine mist of brine applied to the salt activates the salt quicker.
A misconception is plows speed down the road throwing the snow into driveways, but Bevan said they travel approximately 40 kph or below most times. If you don’t the snow blows up and over the windshield making it hard to see and the salt wouldn’t be as effective as it would scatter while being dumped off the back.
Plowing almost seems like an art, watching Bevan quickly scan left to right while his right hand keeps juggling the toggles.
While travelling on William Street an impatient driver behind overtakes the plow going into oncoming lanes before stopping a short distance away by a red light.
One of the many issues plow drivers deal with on any given day.
The biggest concern Sokay said was contractors and homeowners who push or blow back the snow into the streets which is against the Highway Traffic Act.
“We’d like to ask the public’s cooperation while plowing the streets. We do our best keeping the streets plowed for the citizens of Cobourg.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love