Record cold weather and snow have put a strain on both local and state highway department budgets, but officials are optimistic that since spring has arrived, better days are ahead.
“February’s record cold impacted our use of salt. The colder it is the less effective, so we’ve used more salt this year than in previous years at this point,” said Dana Fowler, director of public services for the city of Presque Isle.
Fowler said the city’s Public Works Department required less overtime in January and February than the same time last year.
“But last year was an extreme weather year. We’re about the same as 2011 and 2013 — somewhat average this year,” he said.
He said diesel usage is about the same as the last few years as well.
“Diesel usage is about normal,” said Fowler. “Our salt usage, however, is about 50 percent more than normal — based on what we purchased. We still have some in storage,” Fowler said. “Just looking at purchases, we purchased more but may have more in storage. Our salt is stored inside, the sand outside.”
He said weather-wise, the snow average for the end of February was about 25 inches above normal.
“We had record cold in February — our all-time coldest February. It was 11 degrees colder than average. We also saw more snow, almost three feet — we were 30 inches above normal. November and December we had 56 inches of snow, about half the average of an entire winter. Our average winter is 109 inches,” said Fowler, noting that a warm December resulted in much of that snow melting.
“November was the third snowiest November in 75 years of keeping records. We got a lot of snow early, it melted, then we went into record cold in February,” he said. “The average month temperature was the fourth coldest of all time — we had three January months in 75 years that were colder.”
Fowler said this was a year for setting records.
“We had another near record —the record for consecutive days below freezing is 50, we hit 43. We had a snowy and warm start to the season in November and December, then it really got cold for January and February,” said Fowler. “Last year was so extreme, it was similar this year.”
“Despite the weather, our department budget is holding. We’re just hoping spring flooding is minimal.”
The latest storm, which took place on March 22, caused significant blowing and drifting — conditions that kept highway crews busy throughout The County. Efforts continued last week to clean up snow and open impacted roadways.
“We’re trying to do better about putting signs out — better at signing for drifts. This winter’s been very unusual in that a lot of storms we’ve had have been cold, dry storms, followed by wind. There’s not enough body to the snow to keep it in the fields,” said Bob Watson, northern region manager for the Maine Department of Transportation.
Watson said if the temperatures had been warmer and the snow wetter, it would have been better.
“Folks working with me 30-plus years said they haven’t seen this kind (of snow conditions),” he said.
Budget-wise, Watson said it hasn’t been a great winter.
“Our budget year ends June 30. If it stops snowing and we don’t have floods, we should be OK, as the budget goes,” he said.
Watson may get his wish for a mild flood season.
“I talked with representatives with the National Weather Service a lot. They say there’s not a lot of moisture in the snow, so they’re cautiously optimistic,” said Watson, noting, “the ice jams from January have remained, so that’s the wild card. What happens there when the weather warms up will determine the extent of flooding that occurs.”
His crews were busy early last week clearing roads affected by the March 22 snowstorm.
“U.S. Route 1 north (Caribou Road) was closed Sunday due to weather and the accidents it caused. The Castle Hill Road in Castle Hill is a state-maintained road and was closed Sunday night (March 22), when a vehicle collided with one of our trucks. It remained closed from Sunday night until Monday morning,” said Watson. “That storm, visibility was near zero throughout The County.”
On Monday, DOT crews were out cleaning up drifts, including U.S. Route 1 south in Westfield, where drifting left only the southern passing lane and northern lanes open. The slow lane was completely closed due to a mountain of snow.
Watson said spring’s warmer temperatures should help reduce existing snow cover.
“With days in the 30s and 40s and cooler nights, it should make for a nice, slow melt,” said Watson.
