Winter Road Maintenance

Snow Events

A snow event is called when there is a combination of 5 cm or more of accumulated snow along with reduced temperatures, high winds, and drifting snow. Under these conditions snow grading is initiated.

  What you can expect from us

1. Extra staff and outside contractors help out during and following a snow event.
2. De-icing and grading occurs based on the following Priority Street System:

• Priority 1: Highest traffic streets - will be plowed within 12 hours after a snowstorm ends.
• Priority 2: Rapid transit bus routes and busy streets - will be graded within 36 hours.
• Priority 3: Main streets, school zones and residential pathways - will be graded within 72 hours.

If another snowfall or blowing snow occurs within the 72-hour timeframe, crews may be required to return to Priority 1 streets, causing clearing to take longer.

Our snow grading map shows the status of cleared streets after a snow event.

Open Snow Grading Map

City-wide Snow Grading

  What you can expect from us

• City-wide neighbourhood grading will be initiated after the average snowpack is 15 centimetres (6 inches), to prevent the development of extreme ruts.
• This grading occurs later in the season to reduce the time that windrows adversely affect parking. 

Streets identified on a Snow Route are priority roadways for snow grading because they ease the flow of traffic throughout our city.

 How you can help us

• The City will only declare a Snow Route Parking Ban if snowfall is extreme.
• If this occurs, vehicles must be removed from priority roadways to help us grade snow more effectively.
• Avoid getting towed and a $100 ticket by removing your vehicle in time and keeping it off the declared snow route until the parking ban has expired.

There are two snow routes, the Green Circle Snow Route and the Blue Square Snow Route. The routes are marked with permanent No Parking Snow Route signs, with a metal plate indicating if it is a green or blue route.

Open Snow Routes Map

  What you can expect from us

• Snow Route declarations can only be announced at either 7:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m.
• You will have a minimum of 8 hours notice to move your vehicle before the parking ban takes effect.
• The Green Circle Snow Route Parking Ban will always be declared first. 

Sign up for Snow Route Parking Ban Alerts

Receive direct communication from the City when a Snow Route Parking Ban is declared by signing up to the City’s emergency mass alert system.

Sign Up For notifynow

  What you can expect from us

• Sidewalks adjacent to City-owned facilities, pedestrian overpasses, bridge walkways and high-pedestrian Downtown streetscaping locations are cleared after a snow event according to the Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw.
• Asphalt park pathways with street lighting are cleared of snow within 48 hours after a snowstorm ends.

 How you can help us

• To help improve public safety and mobility, the Bylaw requires residential sidewalks to be clear of snow and ice within 48 hours after a snowfall, and sidewalks in certain commercial and suburban areas to be cleared within 24 hours after a snowfall.
• It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure sidewalks are clear and the snow is placed on private property, not onto the street.
• A cleared sidewalk is one where there is visible evidence that effort has been taken to clear the sidewalk and has a cleared path width of at least 1.2 metres.
• A packed surface no thicker than 3 centimetres is acceptible. View the Sidewalk Snow Clearing Guidelines.
• Residents who are not able to clear their own sidewalks of snow could consider asking younger family members or neighbours for help, or perhaps the person who cuts their grass.
• Snow clearing services are also available online, in the phonebook, or in the newspaper.
• To report an uncleared sidewalk, please contact the City Bylaw Inspector at 306-975-3193.

  What you can expect from us

• When the City receives a report of an uncleared sidewalk, the Bylaw Inspector will investigate, and if necessary, a Bylaw Notice will be issued requiring you to clear it within 48 hours.
• If your sidewalk is not cleared, and the City has to clear the sidewalk, the cost will be charged to your property tax notice.

 How you can help us

If your neighbour is elderly, has health concerns or mobility restrictions, lend a hand by clearing their sidewalk.

If you receive help from a neighbour/relative – nominate them as a Snow Angel online or mail in their name and phone number to:

Tell us how your Snow Angel has brightened your day. Once nominated, we’ll send you’re Snow Angel a thank you and enter them in a prize draw!

When clearing sidewalks, please exercise caution and care, especially during extremely cold weather.

Schools

Graded snow piles, known as windrows, can present hazards for drop-off and pick-up times and if a student attempts to climb on them.

During these times this area can become congested and visibility is reduced with exhaust during cold weather.

  What you can expect from us

• Each winter, windrows are monitored to ensure they do not grow too large.
• If they do, the windrows will be removed.
• Windrow removal will be performed outside of school hours, typically at night.

Business Districts

  What you can expect from us

• Once priority roads are graded following a snow event, snow removal will occur on the remaining Business Improvement District streets.

When warm weather arrives, the snow and ice can melt quickly. 

  What you can expect from us

• Additional proactive snow grading and removal on Saskatoon streets this winter means less snow to melt when the weather warms up.
• The snow piled into windrows will allow that snow to melt slowly, reducing the flooding around catch basins.
• Our city crews will also begin defrosting catch basins on warm days and clear gutters for improved drainage.
• Important intersections that may experience flooding in a fast melt are surveyed and monitored.

 How you can help us

• If the snow melts quickly, your home may be at risk of flooding, even if you haven’t flooded before. 
• Watch our video on  Snowmelt  and find more tips to help reduce your risk of a snowmelt flood in your home.

  What you can expect from us

The following City snow storage sites will be available for public and private use this season.

• Northeast - Central Avenue (3.8 km north of Attridge Drive) - remains open until Thursday, March 10, 2016
• Northwest - Wanuskewin Road (1.4 km south of Highway 11) - remains open until Friday, March 11, 2016
• Southeast - 8th Street* (east of Boychuck Drive) - NOW CLOSED
• Southwest - Valley Road* (west of the Saskatoon Landfill access) - remains open until Thursday, March 10, 2016

To reduce the noise impact to adjacent residents, a new tailgate slamming policy will be monitored and enforced at the temporary Valley Road and 8th Street East snow storage sites; and the 8th Street East site is restricted to daily operation from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

Open Snow Storage Site Map

Subscribe for Snow Storage Site e-mail updates

 How you can help us

• Please report any illegal snow or waste dumping at these sites and other City property to our Public Works customer service at public.works@saskatoon.ca or 306-975-2476 .