On the Radar
City tries to keep streets clear, declares snow emergency
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by Cara Harshman
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The combination of rain, snow and cold have turned Madison into one gigantic slushy puddle, creating a nightmare for plows and travelers.
Metro Transit suspended bus service at 8:30 a.m. due to extreme ice and snow conditions, according to its website. East and West Towne malls are also closed all day today.
George Dreckmann, spokesperson for the city streets division said the problem is opening up a place for the rain to go. Water cannot get through the sewer drains because they are covered with snow, and simply shoveling the snow off will not suffice, Dreckmann said.
“Because we have so much snow on the inlets, we have to use big equipment to clear them,” he added.
Currently, 20 out of the 34 streets employees out plowing the streets are working on clearing flooded intersections. But the heaviness of the wet snow makes the plow’s job increasingly difficult, Dreckmann said.
“It’s harder to push the snow to the curb,” Dreckmann said. “You have to plow twice as much as you usually do because you just can’t move that much snow.”
Already higher than the height of the plow’s blade, snow banks cannot hold any more snow on top, so the plows are pushing it up against the banks, Dreckmann said, which makes the roads narrower and more dangerous.
Kerry Porter, sergeant from the Dane County Sheriff’s office said at the moment the highway and interstate are looking pretty good considering snow has been falling for a short time.
“Almost all the deputies are available,” Porter said. “There have only been a few minor run offs.”
Dreckmann said a snow emergency would be declared for tonight and tomorrow, so people should be very careful to pay attention to the snow emergency parking rules if they do not want to be towed.
The fee you pay for parking over the free times in the lots versus what you pay for being towed is small, Dreckmann said.
“Get your cars off the street and take advantage of free parking in the city ramps from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.,” Dreckmann said. “Absorbing the inconvenience will allow us to widen the streets and open up more places to park.”
By midnight Dreckmann expects about 7 inches to fall on Madison, with a half an inch after midnight. Between 150 and 160 plows will be out clearing the main streets and residential areas after midnight, he said.
