City of Âé¶čAV crews and contractors are out in full force during the first significant snowfall of 2024.
Manager of Infrastructure Operations, Geert Bos, says since they knew it was coming crews were able to respond quickly.
âIt allowed us to plan,â he adds.
Bos says there are currently 50 city crews and 37 contract units clearing Priority 1 (P1) routes.
P1 routes are major thoroughfares in and through the city such as Gordon Drive, Richter and Springfield streets, Clement Avenue, and others.
Provincially contracted crews are responsible for Highway 97 and Highway 33.
Bos adds that while snow continues to fall the focus will be on P1 routes.
âSo donât expect to see us in your neighbourhoods. This year we did make a change so we are going out to cul-de-sacs early, tonight we will be dispatching sand units.â
To assist crews residents are asked to keep cut-de-sacs clear of vehicles, hockey nets, basketball hoops, etc.
A parking ban on snow routes will be in effect as of 11:59 p.m. Jan. 17.
They are located on Academy Way, Black Mountain, Clifton/Magic Estates/Wilden, Dilworth Mountain, Kirschner Mountain, McKinley Beach, Quail Ridge, and areas in the South Mission, including The Ponds.
When clearing your driveway of snow Bos urges not to deposit it into the street.
âPut it to the right of your driveway so that when the plow truck comes by it doesnât put the pile of snow you inadvertently put into the roadway back into your driveway.â
Complaints about snow removal have been few so far. Bos says they typically come in when it stops snowing.
âRealistically we could still be in full Priority 1 response. Once the snow stops thatâs when the clock starts.â
He says crews strive to clear P1 routes within eight hours, P2 roads within 12 hours, and P3s in up to 48 hours.
P2 routes include roads that feed major thoroughfares and P3 roads are generally residential side streets.
Road priority status can be found on the .
Bos adds with the slow start to winter the cityâs snow removal budget is looking healthy.
âRight now weâre burning through about $150,000 a day.â
The total budget is $3.8 million for Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 and Bos says itâs difficult to say whether the city will be well under budget by the end of the year.
âIt depends on how much snow we getâŠif we have to bring out the snow blower and start trucking snow around that gets very expensive.â
He reminds the public that crews have a tough job to do during major snowfall events.
âI have to give a shout-out to the crews, the average plow driver is probably behind the wheel 12 hours per shift. Be patient with the crews theyâre doing the best they can.â
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