MANKATO The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) advises haulers that Minnesota 91 from Nobles County 16 (160th Street) to the Nobles/Murray County line will be restricted to 7 tons per axle when spring weight restrictions are in place, which could begin in early March.

Construction on the 45-mile stretch of Minnesota 91 from Adrian to Russell is expected to resume when weather allows this spring and be complete in late June.

Spring load restrictions are typically placed in March and removed in May to prevent damage to highway pavement structure during the spring thaw. With Minnesota 91 still under construction, portions of the highway did not get the final surface paved, making it more susceptible to damage from heavy loads.

More information on seasonal road restrictions can be found at mndot.gov/materials/pvmtdesign/sll/index.html.

The remaining work on Minnesota 91 includes final paving, culvert lining, lighting, seeding and striping, and will take place without detouring traffic. The construction project includes bridge replacements and rural box culvert construction. Resurfacing will be completed as well as sidewalk and driveway improvements in Adrian and Lake Wilson and additional lighting at rural intersections.

Central Specialties Inc. of Alexandria was awarded the contract with a bid of $18,451,694.

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Six miles of Minnesota 91 restricted during spring thaw | The Globe - The Globe

For Sale For Lease

Property Type Single Family Townhouse/Condo Country Homes/Acreage Mid/Hi Rise Condominium Residential Lots Multi Family

Property Type Single Family Townhouse/Condo Country Homes/Acreage Mid/Hi Rise Condominium Residential Lots Multi Family

Min. Price$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000$85,000$90,000$95,000 $100,000$105,000$110,000$115,000$120,000$125,000$130,000$135,000$140,000$145,000$150,000$155,000$160,000$165,000$170,000$175,000$180,000$185,000$190,000 $195,000$200,000$205,000$210,000$215,000$220,000$225,000$230,000$235,000$240,000$245,000$250,000$255,000$260,000$265,000$270,000$275,000$280,000$285,000 $290,000$295,000$300,000$305,000$310,000$315,000$320,000$325,000$330,000$335,000$340,000$345,000$350,000$355,000$360,000$365,000$370,000$375,000$380,000 $385,000$390,000$395,000$400,000$450,000$500,000$550,000$600,000$650,000$700,000$750,000$800,000$850,000$900,000$950,000$1,000,000$1,100,000$1,200,000$1,300,000 $1,400,000$1,500,000$1,600,000$1,700,000$1,800,000$1,900,000$2 Mil$3 Mil$4 Mil$5 Mil$6 Mil$7 Mil$8 Mil$9 Mil$10 Mil

Min. Price100 /m150 /m200 /m250 /m300 /m350 /m400 /m450 /m500 /m550 /m600 /m650 /m700 /m750 /m800 /m850 /m900 /m950 /m1,000 /m 1,050 /m1,100 /m1,150 /m1,200 /m1,250 /m1,300 /m1,350 /m1,400 /m1,450 /m1,500 /m1,550 /m1,600 /m1,650 /m1,700 /m1,750 /m1,800 /m1,850 /m1,900 /m1,950 /m 2,000 /m2,050 /m2,100 /m2,150 /m2,200 /m2,250 /m2,300 /m2,350 /m2,400 /m2,450 /m2,500 /m2,600 /m2,700 /m2,800 /m2,900 /m3,000 /m3,500 /m4,000 /m4,500 /m 5,000 /m5,500 /m6,000 /m6,500 /m7,000 /m7,500 /m8,000 /m8,500 /m9,000 /m9,500 /m10,000 /m

Max. Price$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000$85,000$90,000$95,000 $100,000$105,000$110,000$115,000$120,000$125,000$130,000$135,000$140,000$145,000$150,000$155,000$160,000$165,000$170,000$175,000$180,000$185,000$190,000 $195,000$200,000$205,000$210,000$215,000$220,000$225,000$230,000$235,000$240,000$245,000$250,000$255,000$260,000$265,000$270,000$275,000$280,000$285,000 $290,000$295,000$300,000$305,000$310,000$315,000$320,000$325,000$330,000$335,000$340,000$345,000$350,000$355,000$360,000$365,000$370,000$375,000$380,000 $385,000$390,000$395,000$400,000$450,000$500,000$550,000$600,000$650,000$700,000$750,000$800,000$850,000$900,000$950,000$1,000,000$1,100,000$1,200,000$1,300,000 $1,400,000$1,500,000$1,600,000$1,700,000$1,800,000$1,900,000$2 Mil$3 Mil$4 Mil$5 Mil$6 Mil$7 Mil$8 Mil$9 Mil$10 Mil

Max. Price100 /m150 /m200 /m250 /m300 /m350 /m400 /m450 /m500 /m550 /m600 /m650 /m700 /m750 /m800 /m850 /m900 /m950 /m1,000 /m 1,050 /m1,100 /m1,150 /m1,200 /m1,250 /m1,300 /m1,350 /m1,400 /m1,450 /m1,500 /m1,550 /m1,600 /m1,650 /m1,700 /m1,750 /m1,800 /m1,850 /m1,900 /m1,950 /m 2,000 /m2,050 /m2,100 /m2,150 /m2,200 /m2,250 /m2,300 /m2,350 /m2,400 /m2,450 /m2,500 /m2,600 /m2,700 /m2,800 /m2,900 /m3,000 /m3,500 /m4,000 /m4,500 /m 5,000 /m5,500 /m6,000 /m6,500 /m7,000 /m7,500 /m8,000 /m8,500 /m9,000 /m9,500 /m10,000 /m

Min. Beds 1 Bed 2 Beds 3 Beds 4 Beds 5 Beds 6 Beds 7 Beds 8 Beds 9 Beds

Min. Baths 1 Bath 2 Baths 3 Baths 4 Baths 5 Baths 6 Baths 7 Baths 8 Baths 9 Baths

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Whats all that work on Michigan? - Midland Reporter-Telegram

To determine the curb appeal of your house, try paying attention when you first drive up or walk around the block and walk up to the front door.

When is curb appeal important?

Everyone likes coming home to a well-maintained house and yard. But, if you are planning to sell your home, it is imperative that it leaves a good (or better) first impression. While it is a sellers market, it is also a competitive one. Positive or negative impressions are made at the first glance.

Important tip: Always check with you HOA before you are too far into the planning stages. HOAs often limit color and product choices and many require projects be submitted for approval.

Question: How do I determine the curb appeal of my home?

Answer: To determine your curb appeal try paying attention when you first drive up or walk around the block and walk up to the front door. Do you get a welcome home, come in and relax feeling or, an anxious this place needs work reaction?

If your reaction is less than great, it may be time to take action.

Q: How do I create curb appeal that says, it would be great to live here?

Pavers can make a lasting impression with little to no maintenance. Installed properly, they make an even and safe entry into the house. Add a little contour curve for interest and you have created an inviting pathway.

A: Start with the front path: Are you able to get to the front door easily, is there a clear path? If not, consider adding a walkway with a couple of planters along the way. Pavers can make a lasting impression with little to no maintenance. Installed properly, they make an even and safe entry into the house. Add a little contour curve for interest and you have created an inviting pathway.

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Rosie on the House: Make your home a head turner - Arizona Daily Star

Thousands Explore Career Fields At JA Inspire Event

OCEAN CITY Mock emergency rooms. Cosmetology stations. Virtual reality labs. Masonry demonstrations.These displays, and many more, filled the exhibit hall of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center as thousands of eighth-grade students took part in a career exploration event designed to engage and inspire.On Feb. 27, Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore held its Read more

BERLIN Members of Buckingham Elementary Schools PTA are hoping to expand the schools art program with the addition of a kiln.Parents of Buckingham Elementary School (BES) students are in the midst of a year-long effort to raise the roughly $6,000 needed to buy a kiln for the Berlin school. Two March events, a talent Read more

OCEAN CITY With city crews steam-rolling through planned street repaving projects this offseason, an opportunity has arisen to continue to push forward and knock out a significant area this spring in advance of the coming season.During a larger discussion this week about widening the sidewalks in the ocean block between 118th Street and 130th Read more

OCEAN CITY Resort officials renewed the debate this week about encouraging more year-round residents through relaxing fees associated with new construction or creating other incentives including potential property tax relief.For the last year or so, the Mayor and Council have heard concerns from property owners and potential homebuilders about the rising cost of developing Read more

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02/27/2020 | Repaving Efforts In OC Running Ahead Schedule; Mild Weather Keeps Projects Moving | News Ocean City MD - The Dispatch

Missouri S&T will host the annual Missouri Concrete Conference May 5-6 in the Havener Center on the S&T campus. Conference registration is $160 per person.

Presentations at the conference are divided into four major categories: pavements, pavement construction, ready mix operations, and buildings and structures. Conference topics will include: avoiding common driveway issues, tilt-up construction, proper sawing techniques, paver vibrator problems and solutions, deicer-sealer compatibility, Missouri concrete overlay performance, compacted concrete pavement, sand and gravel availability, shrinkage compensating concrete, new admixtures, proper dosage and application of fibers, achieving rapid strength gain and durability, KCCMB/EMPC specifications, proper specification of concrete classes on a building project, special inspections of buildings, MoDOTs sand classification system, CP Tech Center update, I-435 design-build project, Bagnell Dam Rehabilitation project, and MoDOTs current research.

Participants could earn certificates for approximately 10 personal development hours.

Organizers say the conference will be of interest to building and paving contractors, public agencies, consulting engineers, testing labs, aggregate producers, ready mix, cement and admixture suppliers, and equipment technical representatives.

Additional information, including a complete listing of presentations, is available online at concrete.mst.edu. For registration and sponsor information, contact Missouri S&Ts office of professional and continuing education at 573-341-6576 or pce@mst.edu.

For technical information, contact Dr. David Richardson, associate professor emeritus of civil, architectural and environmental engineering at Missouri S&T, at 573-341-4487 or richardd@mst.edu.

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Missouri S&T to hold Concrete Conference this spring - Missouri S&T News and Research

To the Editor:

In the story headlined Wartrace, resident spar over driveway by Terence Corrigan (Times-Gazette, Saturday, Feb. 1), concerning the Dec. 19 Wartrace town hall meeting, the paper stated Eddie Carroll disagrees with the Town of Wartrace over who should pay for repairs to his driveway. This matter had not been discussed with us.

Town Hall had set up a meeting with us for Feb. 20 to discuss this matter. If there was a spar going on, I did not know it. Town Hall had already admitted we had a big water problem and it was not our fault, and they would discuss the driveway on Feb. 20 at the meeting.

My wife and I are very upset at this time. Why were we not at the meeting? Especially with the press being there to speak for ourselves? The Mayor and Aldermen meet on the 4th Monday of the month.

The reference in the article made that I had been there on Dec. 19 and serenaded them in a rich baritone singing The Christmas Song made it seem as though I was sucking up. Everyone knows this is something I have done for years at banks, businesses and doctors offices. The article then makes it look as though the song was a prelude to my flattering Town Hall to repave driveway by reading: (Carroll) seemed pretty sure that the town was going to accept responsibility for the damage to his driveway.

Why was all this discussed and put in the paper without us getting to discuss or offer a rebuttal at the same time? Why schedule to meet with us almost a month later? Our town is in bad shape, is this what things have come to? I think that write up was awful in the way it was handled. Again, I was not aware of a spar but if that is what you want then OK.

Things like this are why there are so many dissatisfied people in the town of Wartrace. You have already admitted the water problem in our yard was the citys fault, why would the driveway not be? We have potholes, cracking, washing away of the pavement from the water running down the driveway from the road, and each side of us. This does the same thing to a driveway as water does to a highway.

Everett and Margaret Carroll

Wartrace

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Letter to the Editor: Wartrace driveway issue (2/7/20) - Shelbyville Times-Gazette

In 2007, water quality concerns in one lake among the (far) more than 10,000 that Minnesota is known for would become the spark that led to the largest stretch of permeable pavement in North America by 2009. Now, officials are hyping permeable pavement a type of pavement that lets water flow through it rather than pooling on top of it as a potential way to reduce ice without using road salt.

What started as one project to improve water quality in Lake Owasso in Shoreview, Minnesota, a Twin Cities suburb, has since blossomed into a more common practice in the city, landing Shoreview in the international permeable pavement spotlight.

It was designed to solve the stormwater management problem, says Mark Maloney, Shoreviews public works director. We collaborated with the University of Minnesota and private industry, which was a pretty amazing collaboration for the time. We learned that there were suggestions that permeable pavement in colder climates had the potential to be somewhat self-cleaning when it came to snow and ice accumulation.

While permeable pavement is more common in countries like Sweden and has been deployed to manage rain in cities like Portland, its a technology that has been less embraced to manage icy conditions thanks in large part to the extremely low cost of road salt only $70 per ton in Minnesota.

It may be inexpensive, says John Gulliver, a professor and researcher at the University of Minnesotas Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering who specializes in stormwater pollution prevention. What isnt considered, Gulliver says, is the downstream costs of chloride-based road salts, which rust cars and contribute to the erosion of bridges. That cost is up on the order of $1,400 per ton of rock salt, he says. The problem is that cost is distributed to other sources than those laying down the road salt.

While its unlikely permeable pavement will ever completely eliminate the need for road salt, Gulliver sees it as a viable option for expanded use outside of the parking lots, driveways, and other low traffic applications its often limited to in most Minnesota cities today. My opinion is that what were most worried about is ice. With permeable pavement, though, the water moves right through it so you may not have as many ice conditions as we have currently, he says while also advocating for other solutions such as applying heated sand as part of a diverse approach to winter road management.

There are places like Shoreview where they have been putting in a lot of permeable pavement and theyve realized that in some places they dont need costly infrastructure like stormwater sewer systems, Gulliver says.

Shoreview, thus far, is pleased with how its permeable pavement is holding up in winter. After four Minnesota winters of dramatically differing duration, precipitation, freeze-thaw cycles, soil moisture levels, and snowplow events, we are quite pleased with the performance of this pervious concrete roadway/drainage system. It is being used as intended with no unusual operational issues to date, Maloney wrote in 2013. The pervious concrete pavement in the Woodbridge Neighborhood is functioning as intended and still stands as the most successful example of the use of pervious concrete for public roadway infrastructure.

When asked why this project was so successful, Maloney first credits Shoreviews supportive political climate and a demand for environmental considerations among community members before reflecting on how the project was rolled out. One element that stands out in Maloneys mind was the outreach and education efforts the city engaged in.

Since adopting a winter road maintenance policy based on a model created by the St. Paul-based Freshwater Society in the early 2000s, we try to tell the public that we wont be managing your roads the way MNDOT manages freeways. They should expect clear pavement on the freeways, but in a cul-de-sac thats probably not necessary, Maloney says and the same goes for its six permeable pavement locations in residential areas scattered throughout the city.

After Shoreviews first permeable pavement project in 2009, the city sent out mailers to tell neighbors about their permeable streets and what they can do to help it function sustainably, like not blowing dirt into the street. Since then, the city has added five more stretches of permeable pavement as part of larger road reconstruction projects and demand is growing.

During the resident engagement process of a recent street reconstruction, neighbors approached me and said, We hear you did permeable pavement in a neighborhood like ours. Would you consider that here? Maloney recalls.

When it comes to ridding cities of damaging road salt, education can go a long way in Maloneys mind. A lot of local governments are responding with the education of elected officials. Were not too far removed from an age when no one saw any downside to salt.

Cinnamon Janzer is a freelance journalist based in Minneapolis. Her work has appeared National Geographic, U.S. News & World Report, Rewire.news, and more. She holds an MA in Social Design, with a specialization in intervention design, from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a BA in Cultural Anthropology and Fine Art from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

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How a Twin Cities Suburb Has Led The Way With Permeable Pavement - Next City

Its not just rain drops that wind up in our waterways. Stormwater runoff brings natural and human-made pollutants and deposits them in lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters. The Sophers of Farm Colony in Stanardsville tired of watching the muddy erosion on their property and in the past year their yard became the first Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) project in Greene County.

It was a major gully washer every time it rained, just right through our backyard and it just stayed muddy, said Nancy Sopher. I heard from a neighbor about this program and contacted them and we have just been so pleased.

VCAP provides financial, technical and educational assistance to property owners in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed who install eligible stormwater control practices, according to Richard Jacobs, P.E., conservation specialist with the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District that serves Greene County.

It helps those chronic erosion or ponding areas or areas that you just cant get vegetation to grow, Jacobs said. The program provides cost share of up to 75% of the cost.

Eligible practices include conservation landscaping, impervious surface removal, rain gardens, dry swales, rainwater harvesting, vegetated conveyance systems, constructed wetlands, bioretention, infiltration, permeable pavement, green roof and living shorelines.

When we do construction and build our houses and driveways and parking areas, all that hard surface increases the amount of runoff and that increases the speed at which the water flows across the landscape, Jacobs said. So, we try to do the dry swales to slow down the water and minimize erosion. Erosion is going to occur when the waters moving faster than slower. And by slowing it down we allow the water to soak into the ground a bit more and if theres any sediment it helps settle those before they end up in our waterways.

The Sophers did some conservation landscaping using native plants to help stabilize areas so that things can grow along the slope to the side of their driveway.

Into the backyard from the slope, the project includes a dry swale which incorporates two small ponding areas as a way to slow down the water.

The Sophers did the dry swale in 2018 and the driveway slope in 2019.

Its had a noticeable difference, Nancy Sopher said. I mean, we could not walk across our yard because it just stayed muddy anytime it rained.

Bruce Sopher agreed, adding, The turf grass is starting to grow out back now.

Jacobs said before the project grass wasnt able to grow because the water would rush through there, washing the seed and the mulch into the creek below.

VCAP is a statewide program, funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the states Department of Environmental Quality.

Last year we were able to get state funding, so the state took some of their funds from the water quality improvement fund and moved it over specifically for this program, Jacobs said. This year with the General Assembly starting were hoping to get the same amount if not a little bit more.

Nancy Sopher said Jacobs helped the couple choose the best plants for the area, as well.

We worked with a native plant nursery, she said. He provided a lot of good input.

For the dry swale, Jacobs said, they chose the water-loving plants that will tolerate the ponding, such as the Blue Flay Iris, which is a native Virginia plant. The purple and yellow irises are not native. For the steep bank, they included some terrace logs to help the plants get established there, including the New Jersey Tea, Golden Ragwort and Silver sedge.

Native plants typically can tolerate the native soil conditions and the native climate, Jacobs said.

The projects full cost was $15,500 and the cost-share grant covered $11,500.

While its the first project funded in Greene County, there have been about two dozen projects district-wide, which includes the counties of Madison, Orange, Greene, Culpeper and Rappahannock. VCAP is open to residential, commercial and government-owned property, Jacobs said.

If they have impervious surfaces contributing to an area thats having issues of erosion, periodic localized ponding or flooding and they cant keep any cover, any sort of vegetation in those areas, those would be areas that we would look at, Jacobs said.

Due to application deadlines, Jacobs said its not too early to start thinking about your own property now.

The availability of funds is based off of demand and we do have a ranking protocol, Jacobs said. If you dont get funded this time around, if its not an emergency, maybe it could be funded later, in the next round.

Jacobs said contractors interested in learning more about the program should contact him. He said hed like to do trainings here in Greene if there is demand.

Those who think the program is worthy of funding can contact their delegates and senators in the General Assembly now while theyre in session.

Its made all the difference, Nancy Sopher said. Certainly, we couldnt go from one side of our yard to the other without mud boots. You could just see the brown water washing down to the creek.

For more information about VCAP, visit http://www.vaswcd.org/vcap. To request a site visit, contact the district at (540) 825-8591 or email Jacobs at RichardJ@culpeperswcd.org.

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CSWCD helped Greene homeowners stop erosion and paid for 75% of it - The Daily Progress

Fed-up Solihull residents have complained that refuse crews are often leaving wheelie bins blocking the pavement or outside the wrong house.

Criticism about the number of containers left in the middle of walkways in the Lyndon area has prompted calls for council contractors to sharpen up their act.

Ward councillor Kathryn Thomas (Lib Dem) had taken up the issue at last week's Full Council meeting, saying many locals were getting frustrated at the haphazard way that the bins were returned after collections.

She cited a raft of recent complaints made on the Lyndon Residents' Association Facebook page and suggested that the issues brought up by more than a dozen householders fell short of the standards expected.

Resident Sin Davies said: "There are so many rules and regs regarding residents putting out rubbish, yet in our road we have to play hunt the wheelie bin after theyve been emptied. Could be anywhere."

Amanda Wood added: "My bins have been left two houses away from mine, left in the middle of the pavement and left blocking my driveway access on various collection days.

"Glass collection crates get cracked and broken because they throw them back, rather than placing them back."

And Elizabeth Rose said it had been a long-running problem.

"I've been emailed many times to say that supervisors will follow the crew to ensure bins are correctly returned. It lasts two/three weeks then we are back to their old ways again."

Cllr Thomas suggested that the cases highlighted went against the terms set out in the council's waste and recycling charter and asked what could be done to ensure a permanent improvement in standards.

"A safe and appropriate position is not strewn across the pavement, creating issues for people on mobility scooters, in wheelchairs, who are visually impaired or pushing prams or pushchairs," she said.

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"I supported a resident's complaint back in the summer about this very issue and I suspect I'm not alone in this chamber in having raised it."

Responding, Cllr Ken Hawkins, the cabinet member for the environment and highways, said: "It's worth noting that actually there are nine million collections every year in the borough.

"Now I'm not saying we should expect these kind of issues, but you've got to understand with that amount there are going to be some issues now and again."

He said that when concerns were raised, the council's waste and recycling contractor, Amey, would take action to investigate - going out to inspect routes where issues had been flagged up.

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'Hunt the wheelie bin' fury as they're left outside wrong houses in Solihull - Birmingham Live

The Ego Power+ is among newer electric snowblowers that tackle big jobs without gasoline fumes. Theyre powered by battery packs that provide ample range and replenish quickly. (egopowerplus.com)

Shoveling snow is a hassle and potential health hazard, as I discovered when I moved from a high-rise condo into a house decade ago. I hurt my right arm at one point because of all that hard hauling, which Id luckily managed to avoid for most of my life.

So, for the past few winters, Ive been trying out snow blowers. I didnt want to deal with smelly, polluting ones that use gasoline, however, so Ive focused exclusively on electric snow blowers.

These are fun and often effective to use, but do have their shortcomings.

Modern electric snow blowers (and similar contraptions, such as electric lawn mowers) typically work off battery packs that you recharge separately and slide into slots when you are set to get workin.

Though gas-powered snow blowers will typically go farther on a single tank than electric blowers do on a single charge, you can keep additional charged batteries on standby to boost your range.

This article focuses on two electric blowers I tested. I am also adding information about a third blower one of my editors recently bought and has come to like despite a few issues.

The maker of this model claims it is the only cordless snow blower thats as powerful as gas. This is a squishy claim given the wide range of gas blowers on the market, but it is accurate in one sense: The Ego Power+ makes short work of accumulated snow that is up to one foot high.

That is largely due to its robust 56-volt batteries. I have been using the top-end 7.5Ah version of the battery, which packs more of a punch than lesser Ego packs. The mower has slots for two of the batteries, giving me enough power to effortlessly clear my own property along with sidewalks in a one-block radius, or more. The batteries replenish quickly via Egos upright Power+ Rapid Charger.

The Ego Power+ has lots of plastic in its construction, but still feels durable (though only time would truly tell). It is compact and reasonably lightweight, but using it is a major workout because it isnt self-propelled like many gas blowers get ready to feel a bit sore in the morning!

Key features include:

The blower has appeal well beyond its snow-removal features. The Ego Power+ happens to be part of a product ecosystem built around those big batteries.

Ego offers a line of lawn mowers some self-propelled that also harness the power packs. I have tested one of Egos non-propelled mowers, and I like it and it requires only a single 5.0Ah battery. There are also Ego leaf blowers, garden edgers, trimmers, chain saws and more.

Pricing on the Ego Power+ snow blower depends on whether (and which) batteries are included. Home Depot sells the blower for $649, which includes two 5.0Ah batteries with one charger.

For somewhat less challenging jobs, Snow Joe offers a fairly decent blower that gets its juice two ways its battery-powered, and also plugs into an AC outlet for use with an extension cord.

The Ion Hybrid accommodates a single 40-volt, 4.0Ah battery that does not pack as much punch as the Ego one does but is more than sufficient to clear your sidewalk and driveway with power to spare. The battery is smaller and more compact than the Ego ones. So, when testing out this blower, I carried a couple of spare batteries in a backpack to triple my range.

With this blower, I had to be keep my expectations in check. It struggles with snow higher than 6 or 8 inches, and its all but helpless against densely packed or heavy, wet snow. It throws snow only 20 feet or so, and has only an 18-inch clearing width. It is not self-propelled, though it is small enough that this mostly doesnt matter.

Corded power is a nice bonus. AC revs up the blower more than the battery pack typically does, getting you through jobs more quickly. On the other hand, a cord limits range I had to stay on my property and could not go on around-the-block sidewalk-clearing forays.

The manufacturer nails it when it describes this blower as ideal for quick snow pickups on mid-sized driveways and walkways. Its an honest and realistic assessment.

One thing I hated about this blower: The chute rotates electrically via a switch, and not mechanically (though you can brute-force it if you want). I often couldnt get the power turning to work dependably.

Durability might also be an issue. After working the blower hard over several months, I could not get battery mode to keep working reliably though the corded mode was fine.

But the Ion Hybrid is affordable. Amazon and Walmart are offering it online for about $251, including one battery with a charger.

This blower is quite similar in design, functionality and power to the Ego model. I havent used it, but my editor Jaime DeLage recently bought one and gave me his impressions.

Like the Ego, the Flex-Force has a pair of slots to accommodate batteries of various capacities. The blower can run off a single 7.5Ah pack, for instance. My editor opted for a pair of 6.0Ah batteries but found one was sufficient for many jobs.

I do a longer-than-average St. Paul block, plus my bus stop, a corner pedestrian access and a mid-block pedestrian access all on one charge, Jaime said. That includes grinding through some pretty tough plow ridges in the pedestrian ramps. Ive even cleared the pedestrian access and fire hydrant across the street a couple of times (that neighbor just had a baby). Besides having a surprisingly strong motor and long-lasting batteries, it also cleans right down to the pavement, unlike some big gas snow blowers.

Jaime ticked off a few other features:

The blower, like the Ego model, is part of an ecosystem that includes mowers and other tools. The same battery packs run all the tools, Jaime said. But he noted one potential shortcoming with the Toro system.

The optimal temp range for the batteries is 41-104F, which is fine for mowing grass but obviously not ideal for blowing snow, he said. At first I was keeping the batteries and charger in the unheated garage, but I started charging and storing them in the house when they refused to take a charge a couple of times in single-digit temps. The snowblower seems to operate just fine in single-digit temps, but the charger doesnt like it.

(I experienced some Ego Power+ charging issues that also may be related to cold temperatures, and the manual lists 32 to 104 degrees as the optimal charging temperatures, so I plan to emulate Jaime in taking my charging indoors to see if that clears things up.)

He added a caveat: I think the biggest snow Ive tackled was about 4 or 5 inches, so I cant say (the blower is) blizzard-tested yet.

One other shortcoming: The blower is not self-propelled like many gas blowers and electric mowers.

Cost is another potential down side: The blower retails at Home Depot for $849, including two 6.0Ah batteries with a charger, which is $200 more than a similar Ego kit. But Jaime thinks its money well spent.

Its nice to have choices. The Snow Joe model is a reasonably capable snow blower that doesnt break the bank. The Toro blower packs a punch, but it is on the pricey side. Egos Power+ might be the best overall option with performance roughly comparable to that of the Toro at a much lower cost.

See the article here:
Electric snow blowers tackle big jobs without the gasoline fumes - St. Paul Pioneer Press