By Rebecca Ryser
Salt Lake area residents are not the only ones who woke up at 6 a.m. to plow new fallen snow from their driveways.
The Salt Lake Organizing Committee''s snow removers were also out early moving snow.
SLOC has now had a chance to test its snow removal plan, and 'everything is working great,' said Laynee Jones, SLOC manager of works.
Deer Valley has received 19 inches of new snow within the last 24 hours, adding to their 48-inch snow base, according to the Deer Valley Web site.
Following close behind, The Canyons received 17 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours, and forcasted 6 - 12 for the rest of the day, according to The Canyons snow report.
Snow ploughs, Pro-Tech Sno Pushers, plough with wings on the end to direct the snow, and bobcats are all part of the plan to move snow for the Olympics, Jones said.
Snow Management Group, a snow management and consulting group based in Erie, Pa., won the SLOC bid to manage all snow removal for the Games.
SMG uses Pro-Tech Sno Pushers in the 15 states they are ploughing, said John Allin, president of SMG.
The snow removal contract includes all snow removal at every Olympic venue, Allin said.
Snow removal plans have been tested at Snow Basin, Deer Valley, Utah Olympic Park, Park City Mountain Resort and Soldier Hollow, Jones said.
Since snowfall may potentially reduce traffic movement, an additional 28 snowplows will also be pushing snow in Salt Lake County during the Games, said John Njord, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation.
'The Department of Transportation is prepared to push snow like we''ve never pushed snow before,' he said.
Although SLOC encountered minor problems during this week''s snow removal tests, preparations for the project are going quite well, Allin said.
Snow Management Group was awarded the 2002 snow removal contract based on its past experience and management skill, Allin said.
Local workers from Salt Lake will be performing all the actual snow removal on site, Allin said. SMG''s job is to manage the work and provide some of the equipment, he said.