Snow continues to cover Alaska, prompting cities to look for more independent contractors.
As snow in Juneau keeps falling — 35.2 inches since Jan. 20, according to the National Weather Service — the city is having to kick up its efforts just to try and keep up. Kirk Duncan, public works director, said they have called in more independent contractors that are loading and hauling snow.
"Basically we can't get rid of snow when it's snowing," Duncan said. "We can only plow it. We're actually upping our snow removal budget to include contracts. Our guys are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week." Duncan said there are teams working 12-hour shifts to handle the growing snow. While he has authorized the department to spend as much overtime as needed to handle the snowfall, Duncan said they also are not spending money foolishly.
This weekend crews worked on hauling snow out of downtown. Duncan said over the next couple days the cul-de-sacs in the Mendenhall Valley will be worked on, as well as streets above the Capitol before they can work on Starr Hill. He said it would be about two days before they can get to the "flats."
The department issued a notice again on Monday of streets that will have snow haul-out.
Read the full article>>