Frost advisory issued as anti-icing trucks hit the road in Mississauga and Brampton

It’s too early to break out the snow shovels but road crews are already on the street in preparation for icy conditions as a frost notice has been issued in Mississauga and Brampton.

Peel Public Works deicing trucks were out on the roads Wednesday applying anti-icing bridge decks, hills, and other areas due to frost overnight and into Wednesday morning.

And with Environment Canada calling for an even chiller start to Thursday with a decent chance of wet snow, drivers should expect to see the big blue-and-white trucks more often and get used to sharing the road with workers.

Environment Canada issued the advisory saying to expect frost early on Thursday morning as temperatures will fall to nearly zero degrees.

“Cover up plants, especially those in frost-prone areas,” the frost advisory reads. “Take preventative measures to protect frost-sensitive plants and trees.”

The mercury is expected to drop to below zero on Wednesday night and Thursday could see sunny skies with a high 16 C, Environment Canada says.

The region uses a brine mixture of salt and water on roads, bridges, curves and bends before freezing temperatures hit, helping reduce the build-up of black ice, frost and packed snow.

Trucks spray the mixture of 23 per cent rock salt and water making it harder for ice to form and easier to plow roads, with bridges getting the treatment first as they freeze faster than roadways.

Along with the region deicing and plowing public roads, there is also financial assistance available to residents in Mississauga and Brampton who need help with snow removal.

Brampton is also considering introducing residential sidewalk and windrow removal to its snow-clearing services for an extra $98 per year. Sidewalk clearing would cost the city some $2.6 million annually for an average of $12 per year in property taxes per household, while it would cost about $19.6 million, or $86 per year, to clear windrows from driveways.

The Region’s anti-icing program runs from October to April with most of the liquid applied in November and December. Drivers should give the trucks a wide berth when out on the road to allow them to work safely and avoid getting the salty mixture sprayed on your vehicle.

“Please give our team and their equipment space to work safely,” the region says.

The region’s snow removal crews are on a 24-hour immediate response to ice and snow events. For more information on snow clearing operations or to get assistance visit www.peelregion.ca.