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from the issue of February 12, 2004
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Workers battle to stay ahead of snowstorms
DAVE FITZGIBBON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
When the skies dump heavy snow on UNL’s 12 miles of streets, 26 miles of paved sidewalks and 92.6 acres of parking lots, the Landscape Services crew wages an all-out assault on the snow.
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| | | A student waks around the large piles of snow on the East Campus mall Feb. 2 between classes. Several storms over the last three weeks have left about 18 inches of snow on the ground, keeping UNL Landscape Services crews busy to keep sidewalks and streets clear. Eileen Bergt, director of Landscape Services, says warmer weather will help their efforts. IANR photo by Brett Hampton.
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Eighty-five staffers hit the streets of City and East Campus; 44 plow the snow with a truck, tractor or small scraper vehicle. Another batch of 41 workers, mostly students, grab a scoop and clean up behind the snowplows at building entrances and curb ramps. Depending on the snowfall, plowing begins between midnight and 2 a.m. with the snow shovelers following about four hours later.
“Our goal is to have the parking lots, walks and drives clear by 7 a.m.,” said Eileen Bergt, director of UNL Landscape Services.
But the recurring heavy snowfalls and cold temperatures of the last two weeks have complicated the process, she said. Three storms over two weeks have left about 18 inches of snow covering the grounds, and temperatures were in the single digits for several of those days. A sand/gravel and ice melt mixture that would keep UNL’s streets and sidewalks dry only works at temperatures above 10 degrees.
“We need some sunny days to get the snow and ice to melt off of the walk to completely clear them. Recently, our snow storms have followed each other and the weather has not warmed up to melt the walks,” Bergt said.
In the meantime, crews work to maintain a delicate balance, leaving some snow on walkways for traction on ice, then clearing away slush if it forms. Mid-day snowfalls have further complicated the work, Bergt said, because plowing of sidewalks is usually not possible during the day hours because of danger to pedestrians.
The magnitude of the storms also means crews haven’t been able to plow all lots in a workday. To cope, for example, residence hall lots are plowed last because cars parked around-the-clock mean only the driving lanes can be cleared.
“We understand the residence hall lots are in terrible condition,” Bergt said. The layer of ice has reduced traction, forcing plows to steer clear of bumpers, leaving larger-than-normal piles behind parked cars.
The unlikely and complicated solution: “If we could organize a time when the students would all move their cars, we could clean the lot,” she said.
A large snowfall is a major job of coordination, requiring cooperation with the city of Lincoln’s public works department, which is responsible for clearing many streets within City Campus. Fraternity and sororities houses, which are privately owned, are responsible for walks and curb ramps in front of their property.
Despite the adversity, Bergt says complaints have been few.
“I think people understand what we’re up against,” she said.
GO TO: ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 12
NEWS HEADLINES FOR FEBRUARY 12
Workers battle to stay ahead of snowstorms
Former president of Ireland to lecture
Anti-virus software helped fight latest bug, IT says
Fans keep Hamilton Hall safe, efficient
Museums to present ‘Dinosaur Detectives’
‘Simpsons’ producer to speak Feb. 18 at Union
Team earns trophy for SAFER wall
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