B.C. backs plows' work in storm

Contractors did their job; drivers unready for snow the culprits in chaos: ministry

The private contractor responsible for clearing Metro Vancouver roads during storms met all the “tougher standards” B.C. brought in before last week's snowstorm that snarled traffic for hours.

“The contractor's performance did meet the maintenance agreement specifications, adhering to each of the improved measures in advance of and during the Nov. 29 snowstorm,” a ministry spokesman said in an emailed statement.

“In the Metro Vancouver area alone, the ministry and its contractor deployed 30 snowplow trucks equipped with salting and brining equipment,” the spokesman said. “All available tow trucks were also deployed. Mainroad Contracting also had proactively hired subcontractors to work on the roads in advance of the storm.”

The province was responding to Delta Mayor George V. Harvie's letter on Tuesday to Transportation Minister Rob Fleming, requesting a review of the contract with Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting after cars were stranded for hours in the storm.

Harvie, recently elected chair of the Metro Vancouver board, also called for a review of B.C.'s emergency alert system, specifically why it wasn't activated to warn drivers away from jammed roads, “adding more traffic volume to an already failing system,” he said in the letter.

He said Delta residents were stuck on icy and snow-covered roads for up to nine or 10 hours or more and there were reports of other commuters being stuck for more than 12 hours on the Alex Fraser Bridge during the dump of 25-30 centimetres of snow.

The ministry spokesman said despite the preventive work by Mainroad, vehicles were having trouble getting up inclines.

“The majority of these vehicles were buses and semi trucks that could not climb the grades in the conditions,” he said. “When these large vehicles became stuck, and in some cases blocked roadways, it also made clearing efforts for all available tow trucks more difficult.”

The ministry said it had brought in tougher standards for maintenance in recent years to include requirements for contractors to be “more proactive in preparing for bad weather and more responsive in clearing snow.”

“The ministry constantly monitors contractors to ensure our high standards are being met, and our staff are out 24/7 during winter storms to ensure compliance,” a spokesman, who refused to be named, said in the email.

The maintenance specifications include “minimum acceptable standards” that require Mainroad and other contractors to prevent snow and ice bonding on bridges. They are required to send out “resources in advance of a forecast or anticipated weather event to pretreat compact travelled lanes with winter abrasives, as appropriate for the location, to minimize the development of slippery conditions.”

And they are to “restore traction on travelled lanes with slippery conditions, once the weather event commences” within specific time periods as set out in the contract.

The ministry in May announced it changed the specifications to require contractors, including Mainroad, to return some highways to “bare pavement within 24 hours of a winter weather event” from a previous requirement of 48 hours.

Mainroad Group didn't respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Last week it posted a statement online that said it applied brine and salt before Tuesday's storm.

The storm and heavy congestion created the gridlock that was “worsened by motorists that were not prepared for winter driving conditions, causing many incidents and stalls.” The congestion prevented its crews from accessing the roads and bridges to clear them, it said.

It said drivers should prepare for snowstorms, including one forecast for Friday. They should have snow tires, a full tank of gas or battery charge and an emergency kit before driving.