Government's snow-clearing announcement draws condemnation

Backlash has been fierce about the announcement earlier this week on the government's plan to return to 24-hour snow-clearing.

The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador accused the government of announcing 24-hour snow clearing on the same 14 routes that already had 24 coverage. They also said that it costs more than their platform said it would. The cost in the Blue Book was based on a 2016 assessment.

Online reaction to the announcement was also swift. Newfound News spoke to Vivian Pitts, who is a truck driver. Pitts said, "If the roads are not plowed, it is very scary driving; if the roads are too bad, I have to park, and I don’t get paid if I park; if I park, the groceries I am hauling don’t get to the store on time."

Pitts would like to see the Trans-Canada Highway from Port aux Basques to St. John's under the new snow-clearing regulations.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure did not return a request for comment.

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Here is a list of roads that will be plowed:

Avalon Region

• Route 1 (TCH) — Logy Bay Road to Foxtrap (includes the Outer Ring Road)

• Route 1 (TCH) – Foxtrap to Whitbourne

• Route 2 (Pitts Memorial Drive/CBS Bypass/Peacekeeper’s Way) — New Gower Street to Seal Cove

• Route 3A (Team Gushue Highway — TCH to Topsail Road

• Route 75 (Veterans Memorial Highway) — TCH to Carbonear

• Eastern Region

• Route 1 (TCH) — Whitbourne to Clarenville

Central Region

• Route 1 (TCH) — Gander to Grand Falls-Windsor

• Route 350 (Botwood Highway) — TCH to Botwood

Western Region

• Route 1 (TCH) — Deer Lake to Stephenville (Exit 3 — Route 460, White’s Road)

• Route 430 (Great Northern Peninsula Highway) — Deer Lake to Rocky Harbour (through Gros Morne National Park — Parks Canada Jurisdiction)

• Route 450/450A (Lewin Parkway/Ring Road)

• Route 460 (Port au Port Highway) — TCH to the Stephenville Cold Brook Depot