News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Thursday, January 3/2002)-- Providing temperatures drop below freezing over a sustained period during the next few days, Halifax Regional Municipality's Ice Thickness Testing Program is scheduled to begin on January 7th this year.
Temperatures have been unseasonably mild in recent weeks and ice surfaces formed on ponds and lakes are not safe enough to support the weight of ice-testing crews.
Once the program begins, the HRM Ice Thickness Information Line will be available through TheChronicle Herald and The Mail Star's "Herald Line."
This Information Line is a free public service to residents and visitors within HRM and can be accessed 24- hours a day. Approximately 80 lakes, mostly in the urban core, will be tested on a regular basis by trained Parks and Open Spaces 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
To access the Ice Thickness Information Line, call 425-2255, enter index code 5253 and then Dial 1 (for lakes from Halifax to Peggy's Cove), Dial 2 (for lakes in Dartmouth), Dial 3 (for lakes in Bedford, Sackville and Fall River) or Dial 4 (lakes in Eastern Passage to Porter's Lake areas).
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John O'Brien
Corporate Communications Officer
490-6531
