News Releases

The Saskatoon Fire Department and SaskEnergy crews remain on scene of a ruptured natural gas line which happened around 10:13 this morning.

A private contractor was performing some drilling work on 30^th street when it happened. Nine homes in the immediate area were notified, five homes were currently empty; occupants in four other homes moved to a safer location of their choosing.

Right now, everyone is safe; public school board officials notified parents and coordinated with the Emergency Measures Command Bus which is also on scene.

Caswell School students are sheltering in place.  Residents within a one block radius have also been advised to shelter in place as a precaution to minimize movement in the area. The wind is currently from the northeast; the school is upwind from the work zone.

School officials are communicating directly with parents and guardians to inform them of pick-up options at the end of the school day. From 3:00 p.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. the Saskatoon Police Service will restrict northbound traffic on Avenue B at 29^th street accommodate school buses.  

Emergency and work crews are expected to be on scene for most of the afternoon.

The City of Saskatoon’s Snow Management Facility opened today at the new Civic Operations Centre.

“This state-of-the-art facility has the capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow on a 5.7 hectare concrete pad,” says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways and Operations.

Harris says when the snow naturally melts, the meltwater will run through an oil and grit separator and into a meltwater/storm water pond. The meltwater will then go through a series of specially designed baffle curtains before being discharged in a controlled fashion into the storm water system.

“We’ve designed this facility to make sure we are meeting City Council’s Strategic Goal of Environmental Leadership,” Harris says. “We have a responsibility to protect the South Saskatchewan River ecosystem and separating roadway materials from snow removal will go a long way toward meeting that goal.”

The Snow Management Facility will be open and monitored 24/7 for the City’s snow removal equipment and private contractor use.

In addition to the Snow Management Facility at the Civic Operations Centre, the snow storage sites at Central Avenue, Wanuskewin Road and 8th Street are open for public and private use.

Snow Management Facility at a Glance:

• Capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow.
• Storm water and meltwater management pond with inlet sand/oil/grit separator.
• Roller compacted concrete surface to facilitate site operation maintenance and cleaning.
• Geotextile material is in place to protect the soil and groundwater from infiltration and contamination, demonstrating commitment to Environmental Leadership.
• Policies are in place to manage noise created by equipment and tailgate slamming.

At approximately 4:10 p.m. an eastbound Access Transit Bus was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 22^nd Street between Whitney Avenue and Confederation Drive. There are no injuries reported by the operator or passenger. A Transit Supervisor is on scene. Initial reports indicate an eastbound vehicle in the median lane appeared to have cut off another driver, causing that vehicle to end up sideways in front of the Access Transit bus.

From the December 6, 2016 Meeting

6.3.1 Crosswalk Issue at Aden Bowman Collegiate

Decision

*Administration will report back to the Committee at its February 2017 meeting.

Background

*In a letter, the Aden Bowman Collegiate School Community Council is seeking a solution to the issue of students jaywalking across Clarence Avenue from in front of the school to the convenience store and mall.
*Aden Bowman Collegiate School Community Council is requesting the City implement a crosswalk with painted lines and signage in front of the main school doors.

7.2.2 Highway 16 West Operational Jurisdiction Amendment

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the agreement with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure be amended to include the entire portion of Highway 16 from the current city limits to 500 metres after the centre of the intersection with 71st Street; and
2. That the Administration report back regarding the Urban Highway Connector Program and how it benefits various municipalities, along with a comparison with other provinces.

Background

*City Council, at its meeting held on September 29, 2014, considered the Boundary Alteration Proposal – Highway 16 and 71st Street Intersection Improvements report and resolved an agreement with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure be approved, in principle, to take over operational jurisdiction of Highway 16 from the current city limits up to, and including, the intersection of 71st Street.
*The report indicated that under the agreement, the City will be responsible for maintenance, direction, management, and control (including legal liability) of the portion of the highway, excluding the bridge overpass, which was planned for rehabilitation by Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure in 2015.
*The agreement was intended to be an interim agreement until the highway was formally annexed. Annexation has not yet occurred and the agreement was previously extended to January 1, 2018, or at the time the City completed the annexation of the land.

7.2.4 Sidewalk or Multiuse Pathway on 51^st Street between Warman Road and Millar Avenue

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the Administration be directed to bring forward a prioritized list of 2017 sidewalk retrofit locations for Committee and City Council’s consideration.
2. That the Administration report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation in March 2017.

Background

*The report provides information regarding the addition of a sidewalk or multi-use pathway on 51st Street between Warman Road and Millar Avenue.
*The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) identifies a sidewalk on 51st Street between Warman Road and Millar Avenue. The Administration will be bringing forward a report in the first quarter of 2017 with a list of proposed construction locations for the 2017 sidewalk/pathway retrofit program.

7.2.5 Sidewalk or Multiuse Pathway on North Side of Lenore Drive Joining Sidewalk at Russell Road and Lenore Drive

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the Administration be directed to bring forward a prioritized list of 2017 sidewalk retrofit locations for Committee and City Council’s consideration.
2. That the Administration report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation in March 2017.

Background

*The report provides information regarding the addition of a sidewalk or multi-use pathway on the north side of Lenore Drive between Russell Road and Wanuskewin Road.
*The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) identified the need for a sidewalk on the north side of Lenore Drive between Wanuskewin Road and Russell Road. The Administration will be bringing forward a report in the first quarter of 2017 with a list of proposed construction locations for the 2017 sidewalk/pathway retrofit program.

Saskatoon residents woke up to a snow-covered city this morning. To keep drivers moving, Roadways crews are currently plowing snow and sanding high traffic roads and Priority streets like Circle Drive. Current weather forecasts predict snowfall accumulations of 10 to 15 cm.

“It is just another day at work for Roadways,” says Eric Quail, Roadways Manager. “Our team is in great shape coming into the first snow event of the winter season.”

Roadways & Operations

Crews are currently focusing on plowing snow and sanding slippery sections and intersections on Circle Drive and Priority streets. The following has been mobilized:

• 6 Tandem Sanders
• 6 Graders
• 7 Speed Plows

In addition, City staff are undertaking the following initiatives throughout the day:

• Speed Plows are clearing snow from the main lanes and ramps of Priority streets.
• Graders are clearing snow on Priority streets like 8th Street, 22nd Street, and Idylwyld, and transitioning to other areas as required.
• A salt brine or specialty chemical is being applied as required to Priority streets.

Plowing and clearing will continue throughout the night on Priority streets and high traffic roads, transitioning to other areas of need as required.

Contractors will assist with Priority Street Grading, clearing sidewalks, bike lanes, the bus mall and River Landing.

Snow Storage Site Availability

The following snow sites are available:

• Wanuskewin, Central Avenue, and 8th Street Snow Storage Sites are open.
• The Civic Operations Centre Snow Management Facility is scheduled to open around January 9, 2017.

Sanding Operations

Roadway crews are inspecting, sanding and salting high traffic streets, bridges, and overpasses on a regular basis to provide traction and reduce icing. Sanding and salting is also occurring at intersections, curved roads and icy sections on all residential streets, as required. The sanding fleet consists of 27 sanders.

Priority Street Plowing Operations

Priority street plowing occurs on Circle Drive and Priority 1 and 2 outlying streets and rural roads, as required. The Priority street plow fleet consists of 13 tandem plows.

Priority Street Snow Removal

The Priority Street Snow Removal Program is not active due to adequate snow storage capacity. If there is a significant snow fall and Priority street snow storage is at capacity crews will focus solely on Priority streets.

“City crews will be clearing and plowing all day and night as required,” says Quail. “Please slow down and watch for flashing lights that signal winter maintenance equipment is ahead.”

For timely updates check the City website and snow and ice service alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and on Twitter by following @YXEServiceAlert.