FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Fairbanks snow plow crews are working around the clock in hopes of getting the city’s streets usable again.
Crews are working 12-hour shifts, day and night, seven days a week for the next two weeks in order to move the snow before it melts, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported (https://bit.ly/2m27KRR). The City Council approved the overtime on Monday.
“It’s a relief the council recognized the crisis we could have,” said Jeff Jacobson, public works director.
According to the National Weather Service, Fairbanks is in the midst of its tenth snowiest winter on record, with 29 inches piled up as of Tuesday.
Jacobson said if the roads aren’t cleared before warmer weather comes, the city could be dealing with icy roads, flooding and slush.
The city maintains 355 lane miles of roadway, according to a report by Jacobson.
Those roads typically take three to four weeks for plowing crews to clear. Jacobson said it is likely this year’s snow will take six to eight weeks to plow away.
Jacobson estimates the aggressive snow removal plan over the next two weeks will cost the city an additional $125,000.
City officials are asking that cars be removed from streets when snow plow crews are in the neighborhood.
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Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, https://www.newsminer.com
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