WINNIPEG – Snow is back, it’s polishing the streets and causing longer than normal commutes.
“It took me an extra half an hour to get to work this morning,” said a frustrated commuter.
Intersections looked more like skating rinks as drivers spun out. Nearly 10,000 drivers have taken advantage of Manitoba Public Insurance’s low interest winter tire program and more are expected to sign up now that winter has arrived.
“It just shows that people, they’ll take the opportunity to take advantage of the low interest financing program that Manitoba Public Insurance offers,” said Brian Smiley of MPI.
The city says it has deployed all of it’s available sanding trucks and anti-icing units. Plowing equipment is now in ready to serve mode and snow fencing poles are also starting to go up in areas prone to drifting.
But this civil engineering professor says it’s not enough just to clean streets and improve tires, roads must also be fixed for smoother commutes.
“Improving the surface texture at intersections would reduce the braking distance required and would improve safety,” said University of Manitoba civil engineering professor Ahmed Shalaby.
He says by grinding road surfaces at intersections, rougher textures would improve friction, braking distance and reduce collisions.
Until that happens, drivers will have to get used to this.
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