Snow Plowing 

a) Priority 1 Streets - Red Routes

These streets receive top plowing priority.The objective in plowing these streets is to obtain bare pavement in approximately 8 hours plowing time.

Generally, Priority I streets include arterial streets, major collector streets, and those streets that are intended to carry a heavy volume of traffic and serve essential services (Fire Station, Hospital, etc.)

(Bridges and Overpasses are included in the Priority 1 Routes)

The city currently maintains 9 red routes and the street mileage in this system totals approximately 463.8 lane kilometres. Plowing is commenced when snow has accumulated to approximately 5 cm and conditions indicate that snow will continue to fall, or when a weather forecast is received warning of storm conditions or heavy snowfall.A number of factors will influence the decision to plow. These include drifting or blowing snow, forecasted snowfall, intensity of snowfall, time of day, traffic conditions and road conditions and in accordance with Provincial Maintenance Standards.

NOTE: It may be necessary to cover the red route system twice before proceeding into Priority II routes, depending on the continuation of the snowfall and its accumulation.

b) Priority II Streets - Blue Routes

The main objective in plowing the blue routes is to keep public transportation moving. The blue routes are important to keep clear in case residential streets become snowbound, then residents would have but a few blocks to walk in order to obtain public transportation.

The primary function for these streets is to link traffic flow from Priority I streets to Priority III streets.It is not the objective to achieve bare pavement in the blue routes. With present available manpower and equipment and some rental equipment, it has been established that the blue routes can be completely plowed within 12 hours, following the completion of the red routes.

The city currently maintains 16 blue routes and the street mileage to be covered in these routes is approximately 358.6 lane kilometres.

c) Priority III Streets - Green Routes

The main objective in plowing the green routes is to clear the routes to a passable level for motorists within a minimal amount of time, approximately 16 hours following the completion of the blue routes.

The city currently maintains 26 green routes and the street mileage to be covered in these routes is approximately 370.7 lane kilometres.This time frame will vary depending on the nature and severity of the storm.

It is not our objective to achieve bare pavement in the green routes. Eighteen to twenty-two (18-22) pieces of equipment are dispatched to cover the nine (9) red routes. Equipment available for snow plowing includes:

  • One grader with wing
  • Three loaders and wings
  • Five wing trucks
  • Six small reversible plows
  • Three large reversible plows
  • Six single plows
  • Six rental tractors with wings (under contract) with operators
  • Four tractors with wings
  • 11 Tandem salters

In order to ensure that operations are proceeding, as they should, frequent radio contact and G.P.S. monitoring is maintained and the Supervisor on duty maintains personal contact wherever necessary.When the need arises, two twelve-hour shifts are implemented.