Many Duncanville Residential Streets Remain Iced Over
DUNCANVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) - There was a sense of déjà vu in Duncanville Thursday.
Homeowners left in the morning to find swaths of ice coating the streets, much like they did Tuesday. This look should change Friday: The streets will instead be hidden under a few inches of new-fallen snow.
"We took a drive to get some doughnuts awhile ago, it's slippery," said Dell Brownell, who lives in the neighborhood. "It was pretty scary, actually."
The sound of tires spinning sporadically echoed through the neighborhood Thursday. Residents called it the whine of not going anywhere. On inclines and curves and in the hollows of low spots, frustration awaits.
And there's little relief in sight.
"We have a network of about 11,500 lane miles of streets in the City of Dallas," said Gilbert Aguilar, director of street services. "Obviously we can't focus our attention on every single street, so we focus on the main thoroughfares."
This is a practice most cities follow. Duncanville schools called off classes for Friday early Thursday. Officials said this was partly because side streets and school entrances are so bad, and partly because the cold damaged some buildings.
The city's three sand trucks normally keep main thoroughfares open just long enough for nature to take over.
"This is unusual. Usually, the next day we get enough warmth to where all of this will start melting," said Tonya Lewis, Duncanville city spokeswoman.
In Duncanville and in Dallas, each city stands ready to sand known 'hot spots,' as they're called.
"Certainly we may have some cases where a residential street is extremely steep or if there is no way to get out of that location, we'll address that particular call," Aguilar said.
The Brownells are split on whether they should be concerned with the 'hot spot' approach.
"A little bit, though I know that with tax dollars shirt there's just no way they can de-ice those streets," said Kathrine Brownell.
"No, 'cause that way, I don't have to work!" Dell countered.
