With the possibility of snow in the forecast for the Lower Continent for the first time this season, transportation officials began heating up their response plans for winter on Friday.
The British Columbia Ministry of Transport said it had mobilized contractors to apply deicing brine and had plows on standby if necessary.
He said he was also preparing the “cable collar” system used to remove ice and snow from the Port Mann and Alex Fraser bridges, the source of the so-called “ice bombs” that have become an ICBC responsibility each. more expensive in recent years.
Read more:
Snow on the South Coast this weekend – here’s what you need to know
“In the years that cable collars have been used, they have been successful in removing most of the snow from the cables,” the ministry said.
“However, it is possible for the cables to shed some snow naturally as the weather warms up or is blown away by the wind.”
Drivers are cautioned to slow down and drive according to conditions.
TransLink said it had also activated its winter weather plan, which includes calling in additional staff to assist travelers.
The transit agency is also coupling Millennium Line trains in four-car configurations to increase capacity and deploying trucks to apply a de-icing solution on trolleybus lines.
If weather conditions worsen, TransLink says it will remove its articulated buses, which struggle on icy and snowy hills, from key routes and replace them with conventional vehicles.
He said he is also prepared to deploy “tire socks” on buses at Burnaby Mountain and North Shore that operate on steep hills, and is ready to add a “snow shuttle” between UBC and Alma Street.
Read more:
Snowfall Warnings Issued for Sections of Highway 3 in BC Interior
If there is significant snow accumulation, TransLink said it will also run a de-icing train on the SkyTrain tracks and operate the trains at night to prevent snow accumulation.
Despite this, passengers are advised to dress warmly and add more time to their travel schedule.
A special weather statement remains in effect for Metro Vancouver, warning of the possibility of light, wet snow overnight from Friday to Saturday.
Environment Canada says the western parts of the region, particularly those close to the water, are unlikely to see much snow sticking to the ground, however areas further east or at higher elevation could see up to two inches.
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca