News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
SNOW MELT: CITY ROAD OPERATIONS UPDATE
March 9, 2015 - 7:57am
As the warm weather continues to melt snow and ice, crews are repairing potholes on priority one streets with temporary cold mix asphalt. Permanent patching will occur once the temperature is consistently above zero and hot-mix asphalt is available.
Utility cuts, which are excavations required to connect, repair or maintain underground utilities, are being maintained as required with a grader until they can be permanently paved. Permanent utility cut paving can only occur from approximately May to October, when the ground has defrosted, and when hot-mix asphalt is available. This is to allow the ground to settle and to prevent the permanent asphalt layer from sinking.
Today, crews are grading severe ruts on residential streets in City Park and Exhibition.
The melting snow will drain into the storm water sewer at catch basins located strategically on every street – even those covered by snow. City crews are monitoring any known trouble spots to ensure proper drainage is taking place, and clearing and defrosting any catch basins that may require it.
Drivers are advised to slow down when driving on puddled streets. Pools of water can cover deep potholes and drivers travelling at higher speeds could be caught by surprise, resulting in loss of vehicle control or vehicle damage. When driving through collected water at higher speeds, you could also splash pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles.
If drivers encounter severe rutting, hazardous potholes, blocked catch basins or other emergency road conditions, they’re asked to report it by calling Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476
. 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.
CITY PREPARED FOR ANTICIPATED MELTING CONDITIONS
March 6, 2015 - 5:00am
- 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.
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
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.
REMINDER: APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR SEASONAL COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES IN PARKS IS TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015
March 5, 2015 - 2:55am
The deadline for applications to operate a Seasonal Commercial Enterprise (SCE) in a Saskatoon park is Tuesday, March 31, 2015, for the 2015 operating season that runs from July 1 to October 12.
City Council approved the new Seasonal Commercial Enterprise in Parks Policy (Policy) earlier this year. The Policy provides the opportunity for anyone wishing to operate a SCE that will support a variety of recreational, sporting, or cultural activities or events in Saskatoon’s parks.
An Adjudication Committee with representatives from the City of Saskatoon (City), Meewasin Valley Authority, Tourism Saskatoon, Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Broadway Business Improvement District, Riversdale Business Improvement District, and the Partnership, will review and recommend approval of SCE applications. Approval will be based on the applicant’s ability to meet the specific criteria outlined in the Policy.
Once the application has been approved and all required documentation is received by the City, a permit and business license will be issued by the City’s Planning and Development Division. Permit costs range from $600 (not-for-profit) to $1,800 (for profit) annually; the fee for a new business license is $125.
Enforcement of the Policy will be administered through the City’s Community Services Department. It does not include food and beverage opportunities, which are currently available in downtown riverbank parks. The Policy itself is available on www.saskatoon.ca.
Application packages are available by emailing kara.lackie@saskatoon.ca or calling 306-975-3485.
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.