Snow Gates Take To The Streets In Sioux Falls

by Jeff Rusack, Reporter
December 28, 2012 4:45 PM


Snow-free roads are the number one goal for snowplow drivers in Sioux Falls. But, now with an extra movable arm on the side of 6 motor graders, clear driveways are a close second.

Laurielle Williams enjoys how light the snow was this past storm and how easy it was to remove. But, she dreads the plow and the mess it makes.

“Every time the plow comes through I get all this hard tough snow up to my knees that it's really wide and you have to go out there and try to clean it up,” said Williams.

After years of cleaning the mess the plows left behind, Williams was delighted to learn she's in one of the six neighborhoods where the city is testing the snow gates.
 
“Now, there's just this tiny little bit of snow in front of there and it will make my life a lot easier,” said Williams.

The five inches Sioux Falls received was enough to issue a snow emergency and enough for city officials to begin to see how cost efficient the snow gates are.

“How much is it going to cost? What kind of logistical operation will I have? How many motor graders will I have? How many will my contractors have? Hopefully, all of those things I will have answered in 2014,” said Galynn Huber, the Sioux Falls Street Utility Manager.

While snow gates have been a topic of discussion for a while in the city some residents hope that the plow accessory becomes a permanent fixture.    

“Anything that makes it faster and easier to deal with snow, especially living here, is a great thing,” said Williams

As the plows move up and down the back roads, their gates rise and fall at every driveway, trying to make life a little easier for the every day person who has to shovel.