City spending millions for ice removal

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DENVER - At a news conference Friday afternoon, Mayor John Hickenlooper and the city's Public Works Department explained that the city is spending up to $10 million to hire outside help to clear ice from the streets.

The money will go to contractors for road equipment consisting of heavy duty graders to chop up and clear ice from side streets.

The city's manager of public works, Bill Vidal, says there are 14,000 blocks that need ice and snow removal.

Hickenlooper says the city's new plow strategy is focused on creating center lanes of 10 to 12 feet down side streets throughout Denver.

Friday, the mayor said the drastic weather is calling for drastic measures.

"January of 2007 has been our 10th coldest month on record. We've said all along there's nothing we can do about the weather, it's dealing the cards and we have to play the hand," said Hickenlooper.

The city started hiring contractors on December 21, when the first wave of winter storms.

"We know this is unique, this is a once in a lifetime event," said Hickenlooper.

The mayor said warmer weather will help with cleanup efforts but also create concerns for flooding as ice coated streets begin to melt under the sunlight of 40 degree temperatures.

At a news conference Friday, the city's public works manager demonstrated the shift in equipment by showing a DVD of snow and ice removal efforts along neighborhood streets.

"Whether it's our light plows, the city's bigger plows, or even the steel tip plows, that just won't work on these icy ruts along the streets. That's why we're using these graders and front end loaders to break up the ice and clear it from the streets," said Vidal.

Hickenlooper says snow and ice removal will continue through next week with crews working 12-hour shifts.

Concerned residents can also file reports of dangerous streets by calling the city's 311 call center, seven days a week.

Residents can also keep track of where equipment is scheduled to clear ice and snow along city streets by visiting the city's Web site at www.denvergov.org and clicking on the link to "Snow & Ice Removal." There you can find the scheduled streets where crews will be working, and call for an update on their status.