The fourth day of a snow-induced emergency order in Saint John saw massive traffic disruptions during the morning rush hour.
Crews cleared snow from St. Patrick Street on Friday morning, a key artery to the city’s core, resulting in gridlock for motorists trying to get into the uptown from the west side and north end.
Critics took to social media, taking aim at the timing of the work, but city officials offered no apologies.
“In order to get the job done, our people are on the street doing their job, and our vehicles are on the street, so we have to get the job done,” said Tim O’Reilly, of Saint John city works.
About two dozen trucks joined the massive snow-clearing effort, bringing the total to about 70 trucks and pieces of heavy equipment.
Since Thursday, crews have removed nearly 2,000 truckloads of snow from downtown Saint John, which was pummeled by a quick succession of massive winter storms.
A local state of emergency has been in place in parts of Saint John since Tuesday, when a storm brought about 30 centimeters of snow to Saint John, which already had nearly 100 centimetres of snow on the ground.
On Thursday, another 15 centimetres fell on the region.
As traffic woes on Friday spread beyond the south end to include anyone trying to get into the city in rush hour, some residents reflected on the dangers the snow-clearing operation poses.
Abbie Gould, a south-end resident, worries about the extra traffic plows and heavy equipment have brought to her neighbourhood.
“For other kids in the neighbourhood, I’m terribly afraid that one of them is going to roll into the street and get hurt,” she said.
Bernie Kenny of Bathurst, who is in Saint John driving a giant snow blower, said that is the nightmare scenario for all heavy-equipment operators.
“So it’s very much appreciated if parents and children keep away from the streets they’re working on, try to stay clear,” Kenny said.
Truckloads of snow are being moved to a snow-dump site on Bayside Drive.
It would be far closer to dump the snow straight into Saint John Harbour, but there are environmental regulations prohibiting municipalities from doing that.
The rules exist because of the likelihood the snow would contain garbage and other contaminants — but, under special circumstances, it has been done.
Past exceptions include the clean-up from White Juan in Halifax, when the city received special permission from Ottawa to dump snow in the harbour.
While the massive snow-removal operation continues, re-opening more streets for business and parking on Friday, some officials are turning their attention to how to pay for it.
The City of Saint John will be applying for disaster-assistance funding to offset some of the costs, but it’s unclear if it would qualify for funding.
“Certainly that would be part of the application. They would justify their costs and the application would be reviewed,” said Ed Doherty, a Liberal MLA for Saint John.
The local state of emergency is set to expire on Monday, and no decision has yet been made on whether to extend it.
With files from The Canadian Press and CTV Atlantic’s Mike Cameron
