Minister assures that roads will continue to be safe

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today assured members of the travelling public that roads will continue to be safe. Minister Rideout said, "The department will continue to apply the same amount of salt and sand as in previous years. The department will also make the required numbers of passes necessary to widen roads to the same width as in previous years."

In November, the department announced that it was developing new working procedures for the operation of snow plows. The procedures have been developed and implemented. Minister Rideout said, "This was done in order to ensure the department is meeting occupational health and safety guidelines. The department is committed to the safety of our employees and the travelling public."

Accordingly, the department will no longer use a wing, on a routine basis, on single axle trucks and Volvo tandem trucks. This impacts approximately one-third of the fleet or approximately 115 vehicles. The remaining two-thirds continues to operate as it has in previous years. As well, the department has requested an increase in the weight rating on the front axles of our plows from the manufacturer.

Minister Rideout said, "My department will continue to clear the roads in accordance with the same policy that has been used to guide snow clearing in previous years. If more passes are required to widen the roads to the same width as in previous years then those extra passes will be made. If overtime is required to do this then our staff will work the required overtime."

The Department of Transportation and Works uses the same equipment to do snow clearing of roads as all other jurisdictions on the eastern seaboard.

"The department is currently developing a long-term plan for the replacement of our equipment. We anticipate it will cost approximately $20 million to replace the vehicles impacted by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Of course, vehicle replacement will be done as fiscal conditions permit," said Minister Rideout.

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, Communications, (709) 729-3015 or (709) 690-8403