Winter is the time for holidays, friends, and sledding, but as a resident of North Dakota, people have to be on edge because of its weather. Just last year there were 268 injury-related accidents, and 12 fatal accidents, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
Some students do not realize the hazard snow can cause on the streets of Fargo-Moorhead. Todd Rettig, the owner of TMR enterprises, has been removing snow for 15 years. Rettig owns three dump trucks and other equipment that needs constant maintenance.
“We have equipment restrictions from around seven to 10 at night because our trucks are so big, it slows down traffic,” Rettig said.
Because of these restrictions snow cannot always be removed on time, and Rettig works late hours to make sure it is removed. The city of Fargo alone has more than 1,886 lane miles of road to cover in little time.
Snow cannot always get removed on time and some students live in streets, or cul-de-sacs that sometimes do not get plowed.
“Sometimes it [the snow plow] skips over our cul-de-sac, but when it does not it usually pushes the snow into the middle,” sophomore Ben Prochniak said. “On occasion when I was younger I used to make snow forts there.”
Not everyone gets their streets plowed on time, however.
“I usually see them [the plows] drive down the street, and leave our cul-de-sac till the end,” sophomore Brittany Nathan said. “Sometimes when they plow, they leave a big line of snow that gets pushed up to the end of our driveways. It gets hard and then it is hard to back out.”
The city of Fargo has to deal with about 150 cul-de-sacs, and they have a goal of removing all the snow after 24 hours of it falling.
“Usually they plow pretty good, but it could be better,” Nathan said. “I understand all the work they have to do, but when they miss spots the snow gets hard and icy.”
When the dump trucks take the snow away Rettig said it can be tricky where it is stored.
“We usually pile it on the property or rent undeveloped lots to haul it to,” he said.
Snow plowing and snow removal is an expensive job that requires large equipment. The city of Fargo’s master plan for snow removal it helps residents like junior Emily Lorenz feel safe.
“I feel safe because then you are not stranded in your house or wherever you happen to be,” Lorenz said.