This winter brought a unique and unexpected challenge for the city of Long Beach: a massive ice buildup on Golf Course Road caused by underground springs weeping water onto the roadway.  While the phenomenon isn’t new, this year’s conditions created an especially challenging situation that required teamwork, ingenuity, and some heavy equipment to resolve, according to Long Beach Mayor Mike Pfeifer.

The issue began during a cold snap when the region had little to no snowpack.  Normally, a healthy layer of snow acts as insulation, keeping the ground from freezing too deeply.  This year, however, much to local winter anglers’ delight, the area has not  had the protective snow layer, the frost penetrated further into the ground, disrupting natural groundwater flow.  Springs on the hillside began weeping water, which filled the roadside ditch.  As temperatures dipped well below freezing, the water overflowed and spread across the road, freezing in layers.

Over the course of several weeks, these cycles of freezing and thawing transformed a manageable nuisance into a dangerous “glacier” of ice—some sections reaching over 18 inches thick at the roadside.  The buildup made driving tricky and created potential safety concerns for residents and visitors who depend on Golf Course Road daily, Pfeiffer explained.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation after extensive monitoring, the city turned to our trusted partner Ferguson Brothers of Alexandria who sprang into action.  Using a combination of a skid loader and a CAT excavator, workers tackled the ice buildup during an emergency mobilization.  First, they chipped away at the thick ice layers, moving the ice off the roadway and into our right of way to restore safe passage for drivers.  Next, they scraped the roadside ditch to redirect as much water as possible away from the road and down the hill.  Finally, we worked with our contacted Snow Removal vendor AnDi’s Snowplowing of Glenwood to effectively salt and sand the freshly exposed roadway.

“Once we cleared the ice, we saw immediate improvement,” said Pfeiffer who directed the effort.  “But the springs will keep weeping without significant snow cover, so we know we need to monitor this situation until spring thaw.”

The city plans to explore long-term solutions to prevent future problems, such as improving drainage systems and intercepting the spring water before it reaches the road.  While this year’s “glacier” was a challenge, the response highlights the dedication and problem-solving skills of the city team and its contractors Pfeiffer said.

With the road cleared, the focus now shifts to ensuring Golf Course Road is ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at it next.   And in the meantime, drivers can enjoy smooth, ice-free commutes once again but should remain aware of the recurrence.  Please contact the Mayor’s Hotline at 320-634-6710 if you see any roadway issues.