Snow plow operator blames Winnipeg's bad roads for poor job

A privatesnow grader operator says uneven streets, speed and cost savingsmay be whyWinnipeg streets aren't plowed as well as they could be.

Earlier this week, Mayor Brian Bowman said he was unhappy with the recent snow clearing in the city.

• Mayor Brian Bowman disappointed with snow clearing in Winnipeg

Cameron Glass owns commercial snow removal companyCG Diggs,but for five years he drove asnow plow clearing city streets.

Glass saidthe city is using plow trucks more often than full graders to get the streets cleared quickly, reducing cost.

"A lot of times now you'll see plow trucks that are out and plow trucks can't really get right down to the bare pavement as well as a grader can," Glass said."And I think that's because it's a cost thing for the taxpayers, are trying to do it quicker and faster."

The state of the roads under that snow doesn't help either.

Glass said the rippled surfaces and potholes cause problems too.

"Because in the ruts like you'll have this big steel blade so it's hard for those steel blades to get down deep into the ruts, they'll just take the snow off at the high points off of the road," Glass said.

The city's own policy states Priority 1 streets are to be cleared to the pavement from curb to curb, however the policy states:"Generally, snow accumulating beyond a depth of 3 cm shall be removed through the use of de-icing chemicals and/or by plowing."

Glass said he would like to see the city use more sand at intersections so they are not so slick.