Poof. How do giant snow piles in parking lots seemingly vanish overnight?
It’s hard work—not magic—that makes them disappear.
During and after snowfall, Parking Maintenance staff move snow to “push-to areas” in parking lots and parking structure rooftops. “We work throughout snow events so once it stops snowing it is time to start hauling,” says Paul Clark, Parking Maintenance Manager. “Our goal is to remove snow from lots within 24 hours after the end of a snow event to have the maximum amount of parking available for employees and visitors.”
Once all the lots have been plowed, contractors begin hauling the snow away. This typically takes place after hours for safety reasons: less traffic and fewer pedestrians in the lots. Teams consisting of a front-end loader and several semi trucks with open-top trailers spread out across campus. When each semi trailer is full, the driver heads to a snow storage site, dumps the load, and heads back for another. The teams move from one parking lot to the next until all snow piles have been removed.
Meanwhile at the snow storage locations, bull dozers and front-end loaders begin spreading the newly dumped snow, creating small snow mountains.
Storage locations are selected by EHS to minimize impacts to groundwater when the snow melts. Some considerations include avoiding active construction sites to reduce sediment exposure and protecting stormwater infrastructure such as detention basins and bioswales.
The primary locations are NC50 off Glacier Way and SC34 off State St, where by March the piles are typically 30-40 feet deep across a 10-acre area.
The snowpiles often last into early June. As the snow begins to recede, crews begin the task of picking up debris at the edges of the piles. “We find all sorts of items,” Paul explains. “Shopping carts, tires, car bumpers, all sorts of car parts, phones, lumber, buckets. It’s amazing how much large debris begins to surface as the snow melts.”
Parking Maintenance staff take pride in their work. According to Paul, “Staff still talk about the polar vortex year [2014].” Temperatures were below zero for several weeks, so salt was refreezing within an hour. On New Year’s Day, a snowstorm dumped 8-10 inches of snow while the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs played in the NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. “The state had closed major highways and the city could not keep up with city streets,” Paul recalls. “Yet the university’s lots near the stadium were driveable after the game!”
It may not be magic, but it seems like all the preparation and hard work “spell” success!
Written by Katrina Folsom