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PrintSnow & ice management
The Roads department maintains approximately 700 lane kilometres of roads. Our goal is to provide the highest level of service at the lowest cost.
In the winter months staff work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure the delivery of service is met in a timely fashion. Before storms, crews may apply anti-icing products to roads to melt the snow which reduces the chance ice will form and bond to the surface.
Crews begin plowing when snow has accumulated to five centimetres and/or drifting has occurred. Winter materials are applied to roads after they are plowed, with emphasis on intersections, corners, hills, school zones, playground zones and other known problem areas. Materials used are environmentally safe and depend on road conditions and temperature.
After higher priority roads have been plowed, crews will begin sanding local roads as needed.
Know your snow! Learn what our road crews do before, during and after a storm to make the roads safe and learn what you can do to help keep our roads and sidewalks in good winter condition.
Roadway priorities
| Roads are addressed based on a priority system to ensure the highest traffic roadways are maintained first. Priorities are established to provide the greatest benefit to the majority of the travelling public. | |
| Priority 1: Arterial roads |
Arterial roads are generally multi-lane roads such as:
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| Priority 2: Collector roads |
Collector roads are the main feeder roads into residential communities such as:
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| Priority 3: Rural roads |
Rural roads such as:
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| Priority 4: City facilities |
City owned parking lots such as:
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| Priority 5: Residential roads |
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Salt management
All snow plows are equipped with GPS automated salt spreading. This technology controls where and how much salt is applied and ensures that ecologically sensitive areas are protected from unnecessary salt application.
Snow smart tips
- Park your vehicles off street if you live on a priority 1 or 2 road. This allows the Roads department to push the snow as far to the curb as possible, creating the greatest width of cleared roadway.
- Shovel snow to the right of your driveway to reduce the amount deposited in front of your driveway by the snow plow.
- Clear adjacent sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours after the snow stops falling.
- Chip away at the ice that builds up in the gutter. When the snow begins to melt, it can run to the storm drain and cause a backup of water on to the sidewalk that can refreeze and be dangerous.
- Stay back at least 10m from plow trucks and do not pass the plow truck when it is plowing and/or sanding as material and road debris may damage your car.
- Looking for sand/salt for sidewalks? Pickle mix is available at 805 Main Street and 15 East Lake Hill. Don't forget your bucket and shovel!
Click here to for tips for preparing for spring melt.
Snow & Ice Control Policy
Learn more about how the City sets priorities for streets and determines where to apply winter maintenance material in the Snow & Ice Control Policy.
Documents
- Snow plow routes map by priority (pdf)
- Snow & Ice Control Policy (pdf)
- Snow & Ice Control Guidelines (pdf)
- Know your snow (pdf)