News Release

Ice Thickness Info Online, On Phone

(Monday, January 31/05)-- Halifax Regional Municipality’s Ice Thickness Testing Program is now in operation online and by phone for another winter season.

For information about ice thickness on lakes tested by HRM, please contact 490-3577
It is HRM’s intention to do weekly testing of lakes (pending weather conditions) and the Iceline message will be updated accordingly.

The ice thickness information will also be available on the HRM website http://www.halifax.ca/real_property/ice and The Chronicle Herald website at http://www.halifaxherald.com (metro section) and click on the ice report logo.

This information line is a free public service to residents and visitors within HRM and can be accessed 24- hours a day. More than 100 lakes, mostly in the urban core, are tested on a regular basis by trained Real Property Services staff in the Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, Hammonds Plains, Prospect, Harrietsfield, Hubley, Timberlea and Cole Harbour areas.

The public is reminded that The Canadian Red Cross recommends that ice be at least 6 inches thick for individual skating and at least 8 inches thick for group skating. Extreme caution is advised in areas where streams flow into and out of the lakes. Ice conditions may vary over the entire surface of the lakes and are subject to change with weather conditions.

HRM reminds all citizens to make certain that ice conditions are safe and urges them to exercise extreme caution when walking, skating or participating in other outdoor events on frozen lakes this winter season.

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John O’Brien
Corporate Communications Officer
490-6531