Williston Public Works Gets Help | Video

Chris Williams | 11/9/2012

Since the oil boom began, there have been several changes in Williston, but one thing that has remained constant, the harsh winters. The Public Works Department is certainly used to clearing snow, but they are calling in back up this winter.

It`s not easy to clear the roads of an entire city. It takes an entire army of trucks to get the job done in Williston.

"We have three blades, or snowplows, is basically what you`d call it. Two loaders which are used to pick up the snow and haul it away. We have four sand trucks, three of them with plows," said Operations Engineer Scott Molstad.

Public Works has 58 people to operate the equipment and they say that still isn`t enough.

"We have also brought on a private contractor to assist us with the ever expanding community of the city of Williston," Molstad added.

Knife River is a construction company, but this winter they are linking up with public works to help remove snow.

"Well from what I`m understanding the map I looked at were going to have about half, everything that’s going to be on the north side of highway two," said President of Knife River North Dakota Brad Arntson.

Knife River bought their own trucks to plow the roads. The company already hauls gravel and sand, so the transition into plowing snow was rather smooth.

"Basically went out and looked at the equipment that they had, and fabricated for our blades off the stuff they had on their blades. Just sat down and went through everything so that everybody is pretty comfortable," Arntson added.

This winter storm didn`t give much warning, but both Public Works and Knife River spent all winter preparing for anything.

"We`re basically prepared to go on a moment’s notice right now. A lot of times they will start very early in the morning to avoid a lot of the traffic," added Molstad.

It can take anywhere from 40 to 50 tons of salt to clear the roads.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO WILLISTON STORIES