The rough winter weather this season is making roads in HRM difficult to navigate in more way than one.
Many road signs have been knocked down by snow plows or are covered and encased in icy snowbanks.
“During this time of the year, it’s very difficult for us to keep signs up,” says Kevin Mitchell from the Department of Transportation.
Both the city and the province say plows are usually the culprit.
“Typically weather doesn’t blow a sign over,” Mitchell adds. “But when you’re pushing heavy snow, sometimes the snow coming off the plow can hit the sign…if the sign is in a deteriorated or weak state, sometimes that can knock it over.”
Many of the signs encased in snowbanks won’t be replaced until Spring.
“Repairs will be assessed,” says Tiffany Chase with HRM. “If we can’t make repairs right away then that will happen at the end of the winter season.”
She adds that temporary signs may be installed before that happens.
Professor of Traffic studies Ahsan Habib says problems need to be addressed sooner than later.
“We should immediately try to replace them now and not wait until the Spring or a later time, particularly mandatory ones,” he says.
Drivers are asked to report any damaged signs they notice.
