Snow clearing & ice control

Our snow clearing and ice control program typically runs from November until April. Activities FOLLOW the Council-approved Policy on Snow Clearing & Ice Control.

We use both City-owned heavy equipment and privately-owned equipment hired on contracts. When we are clearing snow, we use:

• Sand/salt spreader trucks
• Truck plows
• Motor graders
• Front-end loaders
• Sidewalk plows
• Snow blowers
• Anti-icing trucks

This equipment helps us:

• Clear snow from streets, lanes, sidewalks, and active transportation pathways
• Move accumulated snow to snow disposal sites
• Sand and salt to improve traction on roadways
• Thaw curb inlets, catch basins and culverts in the spring so water can drain
• Clear ditches of snow, ice and debris to prevent overland flooding

Streets and sidewalks are cleared on a priority basis: Priority 1 (P1) regional streets and major routes first; then Priority 2 (P2) bus routes and collector streets; and finally Priority 3 (P3) residential streets.