Despite the rough winter ahead, students driving and walking on campus are in the safe hands of Ohio State snow removal workers.
Yesterday’s snowfall required only a little salting to clear the roads, but the rest of this winter will prove to be long for workers clearing campus roads and sidewalks.
The Roads and Grounds Division of Physical Facilities, the division in charge of removing snow from campus, has already used 350-400 tons of salt, said Kevin Wagner, acting director of the division. This is more than the campus used for the entire winter last year.
The division has two separate sections to focus on snow removal, said Wagner. The first, Campus Shop, consists of 16 employees who concentrate on campus roads. Landscape Operations removes snow from all sidewalks, with a labor force of 37.
In the event of a snowfall, the Roads and Grounds Division will visually inspect the campus roadways and decide what is appropriate. Police will also alert the division, especially if there is ice on the ground, Wagner said.
Two or more inches of snow requires plowing on both roads and sidewalks.
“We match Columbus city’s policy on snow depth because of the 7 percent budget cut last year,” Wagner said.
Sidewalks are given special consideration based on how dangerous they may be during a snowfall.
“The sidewalk leading to Central Classrooms was salted yesterday because it is so steep,” Wagner said.
A separate hospital crew is called whenever it is snowing to give special attention to the area around the OSU Medical Center.
Students with disabilities are given the same consideration. If any student has an issue, he or she can contact Physical Facilities directly, said Anne Yurcisin, director of the Office for Disabilities Services.
“Physical Facilities has always been willing to work with the students on any concerns they may have,” Yurcisin said.
Wagner said there were only four snow calls last year, but he can’t say how many there will be this year.
“This winter has been terrible,” he said.
The city streets have been suffering the same fate. Columbus saw 10.2 inches of snow last winter, but 14.2 inches have already fallen this year, said Mary Webster of the Columbus Public Service Department.
As of last Friday, Columbus has spent $265,158 on materials such as rock salt and salt brine, a chemical put on the streets before a snowstorm.
The city does not work with the university in clearing campus roads. However, Columbus does clear roads bordering campus, such as High Street and Lane Avenue, Webster said.
