I am a visitor to this peninsula, from the Chinook country of Alberta, where winds often blow at 70 to 120 kph. Snow fences or wide ditches are a protection from accumulating snow drifting onto the highways, particularly Highway #2 running between Edmonton – Calgary -Fort MacLeod. I am struck by the Ferndale Flats windy plains and their narrow ditches and the lack of snow fences or shelter belt trees lining the roadway. Frequently there are whiteouts on that stretch of road, causing road closures or collisions.
It seems to me a good use of the Spruce the Bruce funds would be to invest either in planting some mature trees along the sides of the Ferndale Flats road and/or invest in snow fencing and encouraging the use of it on either side in the fields to reduce drifting. Perhaps even widen the ditches to increase accumulation of snow there instead of on the roadsides.
And may I, in closing, commend the snow plough operators for their exceptional work keeping the roads open during this year of continuous snowfall. Awesome work well done!
Heather Oxman
