'A big inconvenience': Residents in southeast Edmonton neighbourhood frustrated with windrows left behind
Residents in a southeast Edmonton neighbourhood are frustrated with the massive windrows left behind by city crews after blading the area for ice buildup.
“My husband and I just stuck our fingers in one of them, they are solid ice and they're not going anywhere for a while,” Nickie Scott, a resident in The Meadows, said.
Scott has been living in the area with her family for more than two decades and she says the recent change in street access has made it difficult for people to park or even plug-in their vehicles.
“We had one guy park on top of the windrow last night,” she said while gesturing at the pile of snow in front of her driveway.
“The kids will probably have fun with it, building snow forts… but, that’s probably the only use you’re going to get out of them.”
Bob Wood, another resident, said he’s concerned about the thaw in the spring and the potential impact it could have in the area.
“There’s going to be flooding because the snow is not going to get through these,” he explained while shovelling.
“It’s a big inconvenience for a lot of people.”
Scott understands the city is being proactive but she said there still needs to be a balance.
“The road was fine,” she said.
“It’s the beginning of January and we’re now going to be left with this… we’re going to get more snow and it’s going to get cold.”
Scott told CTV News she escalated the concern with the city by calling 311 and the response she got was there’s “no timeline” to remove the windrows.
“He said, ‘If we come and remove the snow on your street, we have to remove it everywhere,’” she recalled.
Mobility and accessibility is another worry for Scott. She said the mounds of overflowing snow transformed the streets into a “one-way” lane to get in and out.
“The expectation is that we’re going to be like this for the rest of the season.”
Philip Herritt, director of the city's Infrastructure Operations, Parks and Roads Services, said crews have been out in full force this week taking on the deep snowpack on all roads, adding that higher amounts of precipitation this season are tying up equipment and resources.
“As a result of this accumulation, we can expect the size of windrows to be much larger this year, especially in comparison to last year,” Herritt said in a statement to CTV News.
“Once crews have completed clearing a road in a residential neighbourhood, specialized equipment goes in and removes windrows that are blocking driveways and crosswalks.”
“While we do not remove windrows from curbsides in residential areas, we do our best to help ensure safety and mobility for Edmontonians."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.