CITY PREPARED FOR ANTICIPATED MELTING CONDITIONS

Warmer weather is finally on its way! With above freezing temperatures forecast for at least the next week, melting on many residential streets will significantly reduce the packed snow, and asphalt may see the light again.

“Melting snow will drain into the storm water sewer at catch basins located strategically on every street, even the ones covered by snow,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.  “In fact, although some catch basins may freeze, the snow cover helps to insulate the drain and keep it from freezing when overnight temperatures are still below freezing.”

Known trouble locations are monitored and if ponding happens around those catch basins, City staff will clear and defrost them as required.

Priority Streets

The proactive grading and snow removal on priority streets has additional benefits for road conditions in warmer weather, such as reducing standing water which causes potholes, and less sand to clean up in springtime.  Removal along priority streets continues; so far this winter 10,200 tandem truckloads of snow have already been removed.

Residential Streets

City-wide neighbourhood grading on residential streets is not scheduled at this time.  While it improves driving conditions, grading creates windrows of heavy ice and snow that are stored in the parking lane in front of residential homes, and results in loss of on-street parking and narrower streets.  Grading is necessary to prevent deep ruts of iced snow that can occur once the packed snow depth is city-wide 6 inches (15 cm).   Currently the average snowpack depth on residential streets is 4 inches (10 cm), based on 30 locations measured throughout the city this week.

“Packed snow on roads tends to melt slowly and evenly at above zero temperatures, so many residential streets will be left to melt on their own,” Hyde says.  “However, some streets have deeper ruts measuring close to 6” (15 cm) affecting driving conditions. We will be leveraging on this warm weather to allow our crews to address those streets.”

City Snow Melt Activities

• Grading of streets that are experiencing heavy ruts and where there is little option for motorists to avoid.  These are typically in core neighbourhoods where roads are narrow.
• Grading residential streets approaching 6 inches (15 cm) snowpack to prevent severe rutting.
• Regular monitoring and sanding of bridge decks, overpasses and high-risk intersections as required during the thaw/freeze cycle.
• Removing snow windrows on remaining priority streets
• Monitoring catch basins at risk for flooding and keeping them clear for melting snow.
• Monitoring critical intersections, ditches, ponds and culverts that may flood during fast melt. Crews and equipment will be ready for emergency situations.

Please call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476 to report severe rutting, hazardous potholes, blocked catch basins or emergencies. For more information on the City’s snow management programs visit saskatoon.ca/snow.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City on Twitter and Facebook.