Anywhere from five to 15 centimetres of snow is expected beginning Tuesday, Nov. 29 from a storm system combining with cool, arctic air. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

slow down

Highway crews getting out ahead of forecasted snowfall throughout Nanaimo & Oceanside

Nov 28, 2022 | 1:04 PM

NANAIMO — Road clearing crews across the mid-Island are on alert for a potential blanket of snow.

Environment Canada is calling for at least five centimetres of snow, although some forecast models indicate there could be more, beginning early Tuesday, Nov. 29 and continuing through to Wednesday, Nov. 30.

It means highway snow clearing efforts will be tested for the first time this winter, with Mainroad Contracting’s Chris Cowley saying they’ve been getting out ahead of the storm.

“Our biggest concern is black ice and freezing conditions, so we’ve been dealing with that over the last couple of days and through tonight (Monday) as well, out with our brine trucks and patrolling with sand and making sure we’re getting on top of those slippery conditions.”

Cowley said their internal forecasts are calling for a blanket of snow from higher elevations all the way down to the water.

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He said he’d be surprised if the Inland Island Hwy. didn’t receive some accumulation, as well as Hwy. 19A through Parksville, Qualicum and the Comox Valley.

As is typical with these weather systems, a bulk of the snowfall is forecast to come in more rural areas inland and to the north.

“At this time of year we’re out there regularly as it stands, so it’ll almost be business as usual at higher elevations, the areas we’re more amping up for are the lower elevations where we haven’t seen too much of the white stuff quite yet.”

Mainroad operate their complement of trucks in a similar priority fashion many municipal governments do, including the City of Nanaimo.

Highways will get attention first, followed by main arterial roads, followed by school bus routes.

Local governments also prioritize transit and roads to the hospital.

Cowley said the best way to not become a traffic incident statistic is to give yourself extra time – knowing despite everyone’s best efforts, roads will still be slick.

“Bridge decks can be tricky because with the air temperature surrounding the bridge deck, they freeze quicker than any other road surface. So a road can be fine but you hit a bridge deck and it’s slippery.

— with files from Bill Nation, 97.3 The Eagle

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