Article content

As icy streets and sidewalks seem to become the new normal, the city says there will be “24/7 coverage” until April as crews use brine and salt to tackle winter’s wallop.

Complaints to 311 had spiked last week following freezing rain that turned city streets and sidewalks into ice rinks, and on Monday crews went into residential areas to deal with the ice and snow.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or City increasing focus on salt use to tackle icy streets and sidewalks Back to video

Andrew Grant, general supervisor of infrastructure operations with the city, said the freezing rain will change the city’s approach to dealing with the ice and snow.

“We look at one, the type of blades we’re using on our trucks in residential and with also, with the mix — how much salt we’re adding into the sand mixes because it will serve two purposes,” said Grant.

“One, the salt is there to eliminate the ice but at the same time recognizing that there is ice accumulation in the residential, so while that salt is working we do need some grit to provide traction.”