Transportation minister Barry Petten says the hope is to have their expanded version of 24-hour snow clearing up and running by the end of this month.

Petten says the application process for additional workers closed last Wednesday. They had over 150 people apply, and about 100 of those are going through the vetting process.

He says the crews will be out in each region as soon as they are able, which will hopefully be later this month.

He would prefer to have crews in place before Christmas, but he admits that may be wishful thinking. He is hoping to have their overnight crews in place before the end of the month.