MORE THAN 600 TRUCKLOADS OF SNOW REMOVED FROM CITY STREETS AHEAD OF MORE SNOW

Crews continue to work around the clock cleaning up and removing snow from the weekend’s snow event to make room for another 15-25 cm expected to start today.  In addition, light snow and dropping temperatures is causing icing at intersections, and on bridges and overpasses, so we are also out in full force sanding and salting priority streets.

“The past weekend’s snow and ice event started with one inch of freezing rain, followed by heavy snow, keeping our city crews and contractors busy on priority streets.  With the changes we implemented this year, increasing the number of contractor crews, we made excellent progress and graders made at least one pass on all of the priority streets in 58 hours, well below the targeted 72 hour timeframe,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “Once all of the priority streets are graded, we go back and begin to remove the snow stored in the center of the roads.  So far this week, we have removed 612 large tandem truckloads of snow.”

More snow is forecast today and tomorrow, so graders will be back snow grading the priority streets before they can remove the snow piles (windrows) within the school zones.

When it rains or snows, salting, sanding and grading occur on the following Priority Street System;

Priority 1: Highest traffic streets – major roads such as Circle Drive, 8th Street, 22nd Street and College Drive, access to fire halls, hospitals and emergency sites.

·     Snow grading - within 12 hours after a snow storm ends

Priority 2: Streets adjacent to emergency services, rapid transit bus routes, busy roads such as Clarence Avenue, Taylor Street, Ruth Street, Fairlight Drive, McCormack Road, 37th Street and Centennial Drive.

·     Snow grading – within 36 hours after a snow storm ends

Priority 3: Includes local bus routes, access to schools, and main streets such as Emmeline Road, parts of Main Street, and Wiggins Avenue, 29th Street, Forrester Road.

·     Snow grading – within 72 hours after a snow storm ends

Another snowfall or blowing snow within the 72-hour timeframe may require crews to return to Priority 1 streets, causing snow grading to take longer.  A Priority Route Map is available at saskatoon.ca by clicking on Better Winter Roads.

During a snow event, regular Snow & Ice updates will be issued in the morning and late afternoon and the Snow & Ice Interactive Map will be updated as priority streets are graded. These updates will be shared on our social media channels and Saskatoon.ca.

“Residents are reminded that residential streets are not included in the priority system, and will only be graded once the snow pack reaches 15 cm (6 inches) to prevent ruts that form when the snow softens,” says Hyde. “We want this to occur later in the season because the graded snow is pushed to the side of the road and reduces on-street parking, which can be frustrating for residents.  Residents can report excessive rutting that may occur prior to performing the residential snow grading. We will then investigate and take appropriate action as may be required."                                                                        

Residents can report problem areas by calling Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

The City is Plowing Ahead and is ready for whatever winter brings this year! For more information on these and all of our Snow & Ice programs, visit Saskatoon.ca and click on Better Winter Roads.

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