Snowbanks cleared along Perth Road 119 south of Milverton

Snow is blown back from the highway shoulder to create safer travel space for motorists and area horse-and-buggy traffic along Perth Road 119. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Blowing snow was a common sight along Perth Road 119 south of Milverton on Saturday – but this time, it wasn’t coming from a winter storm.

Instead, the snow was flying from a large snowblower as crews worked to cut back the high banks lining the west shoulder of the busy highway.

Jason Jantzi was behind the wheel of a high-powered Fendt tractor, using a front-mounted blade and heavy-duty snowblower to remove built-up drifts and widen the shoulder. When he’s not assisting Perth County with winter road maintenance, Jantzi operates a dairy farm east of Milverton.

During the winter months, his equipment is put to work helping keep area roads safe and accessible. The powerful tractor and blower combination allows crews to move large volumes of snow quickly and efficiently, particularly in sections where drifting has narrowed the shoulder.

Close by, Perth County roads employee Dennis Kuepfer followed the operation in a pickup truck equipped with flashing caution lights to alert approaching motorists and slow traffic around the snow-clearing equipment.

Kuepfer, a Milverton resident, has worked as a county snowplow operator for 21 years. In the summer months, he manages his own excavation and construction business, taking on projects throughout the area.

He noted crews had to blow back snow along this stretch of road four times already this winter due to persistent drifting and heavy accumulations.

Keeping the shoulders clear is especially important in this part of Perth County, where a significant Amish and Mennonite population regularly travels by horse and buggy. Widened shoulders provide a safer space for those vehicles and help reduce the risk of accidents along the highway.

Saturday’s work was part of the county’s ongoing efforts to maintain safe travel conditions during what has been a challenging winter season.