‘Never seen anything like it,’ Massive 200-foot crane used for storm cleanup in Barrie neighbourhood

Crews are using a 200-foot crane to lift tree limbs over houses in a Barrie neighbourhood as storm cleanup continues.

Crews armed with a 200-foot crane are working in a south end Barrie neighbourhood on Friday, removing tree limbs and debris more than one month after a powerful ice storm wreaked havoc across the region.

The ice storm that hit March 30 downed trees, power lines and damaged properties, with many municipal leaders noting the cleanup would take weeks to complete.

On Friday, crews used the crane to lift trees over homes on properties that back onto environmentally-protected lands. The City noted there was no other way to access and remove the debris.

“It’s huge I’ve never seen anything like it,” said resident Tracey Harrison. “They’re doing a great job.”

Backyard assessments are underway and the City says removal of trees will take all month.

“We’ve got over 350 service requests for trees in backyards from city-owned property, and that doesn’t even include the people who haven’t put in yet, so we expect there to be a lot more,” said Dave Friary, with the City of Barrie.

Certified Tree Risk Assessors will drop off notices, inspect trees and provide priority schedules for cleaning yards. “There are approximately 125 km of forest edges to inspect and manage, so this will take a significant amount of time,” the City added.

Brush tipping fees are still being waived for residents at the Ferndale Drive North landfill until May 31 to help with storm cleanup. The landfill is open Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

As of April 25, the City said crews collected debris piled at curbs and noted they would be making multiple passes across Barrie until everything is cleaned up.

Trails through forested areas remain closed across the city for safety reasons. The City says with so many trees damaged, there is the risk of falling branches. Crews will tackle the tireless job of inspecting trails and clearing hazardous trees, but again, the City says this will take significant time to complete.

Waterfront trails, trails that run through open space parks and trails away from ice damaged trees are open to the public.

Parks are also open, but the City cautions residents to stay clear of trees, treed areas and forests, and to be mindful of crews and equipment working in the area.