Sudbury drivers colliding into 'hard as rock' snow banks

Auto body shops around Sudbury are reporting a higher than normal volume of crashes this winter.

Paul Michaud at the Imperial Collision Centre said his shop hasn't been this busy in five years. He said one of the biggest causes of accidents this winter have been tall, frozen snow banks in residential areas.

"The snow banks are hard as a rock. They're just sliding into them and damaging their vehicles."

City of Greater Sudbury spokesman Tony Cecutti said, while the snow banks may be tough to navigate in some residential areas, the city has to make clearing intersections and keeping roads plowed a priority.

"It certainly seems to be a common topic every year,” he said.

“People make inquiries about the heights of snow banks and the policy. We're probably going to have another four to six weeks of this, and we'll have to manage it as best we can."

For Sudbury residents Ron Langin and Terry Albert, the snow banks pose a huge problem when trying to park in the city.

“It's like a climbing adventure trying to get over there,” Langin said.

“Sometimes I refuse to attempt to put money in the metre, because they aren't accessible.”

Albert said that, as he get older, “it's getting more difficult to climb over the banks, to drive around the narrow streets to get where you are going.”

Last fall, roads director David Shelstead suggested more snow bank removal would cost the city up to $4 million a year.