CITY MONITORS STREETS TO DETERMINE TIMING OF CITY-WIDE RESIDENTIAL GRADING

City crews have been out measuring the snowpack and rut depth on residential streets to determine when a city-wide snow grading will be initiated. Initial measurements have found an average snowpack of 7.5 centimetres (3 inches). This is currently below the 15 centimetres (6 inches) threshold to trigger a city-wide residential snow grading.

“These are our initial measurements but crews will continue to monitor and assess residential streets over the next few days and we will be in a better position next week to determine the timing of the potential activation of City-wide residential grading,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “In the interim, we are continuing to address trouble spots on residential streets as they are reported.”

This year, the intent is to perform the city-wide residential snow grading program later in the season to reduce the time that windrows adversely affect parking.

“Timing is everything when it comes to initiating City-wide snow grading; the snow pack needs to be thick enough and the weather warm enough to soften the pack so that it can be graded effectively,” says Hyde. “Windrows impact residential on-street parking so we don’t want to initiate it too early. We also don’t want to leave it too late because Spring temperatures can cause deep ruts on snow packed streets.”

So far this winter, 6,800 tandem truckloads of snow have been removed from priority streets which are in good winter driving condition. City Crews continue to work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to sand and salt roads as required.

After the weekend’s snow storm crews are continuing with the following;

• Snow windrow removal from Business Improvement Districts.
• Snow windrow removal around the school zones.  With the February school break in effect the timing of this will help to provide for improved conditions in the drop off zones at the schools.
• The snow train has been activated to remove snow stored along the barrier walls of Circle Drive and the bridges.

Once this work is complete, crews will look to begin removing snow stored in windrows from priority streets as required.

For more information on the City’s Snow & Ice Plan visit Saskatoon.ca and search “Snow Clearing”. To report impassable or hazardous streets call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.