Summerside hoping to reduce snow clearing 'impatience'

Summerside is taking steps to improve its snowplow service.

The city says all streets will be cleared within five hours after a storm this winter.

And next winter, a new software system will allow residents to track the location of snowplows on the city's website.

We're hoping to cut down on impatience and calls. Greg Gaudet

"We're hoping to cut down on impatience and calls when you know that all the equipment is out and doing the best they can," said Greg Gaudet, Summerside's director of municipal services.

Over the last four years, six city plows have been taking up to five-and-a-half hours to clear city streets. And four contracted plows have been clearing amalgamated areas in about four-and-a-half hours.

Upgrades to plows

This winter, the city has decided to hire only three outside contractors this year at a savings of $50,000.

But Gaudet said upgrades to two of the city's plows will help them clear snow on larger routes more quickly.

"The areas that we're taking over are predominantly the larger collector areas that are easier to remove snow and we have larger equipment with wings where you can take only one or two passes to clear snow. So it can be done faster and more efficient with the equipment that we have."

If the plows aren't able to achieve the five-hour goal, the city will have to readjust the system, Gaudet said.

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