STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
By Jordan Parker

City to make school zones a priority for snow clearing

Nov 27, 2017 | 10:26 AM

City snow removal crews are working on Priority 1 roads today, in the wake of a 20-centimetre weekend snowfall.

“All arterial roads have been cleared and crews will be moving into P2 collectors and bus routes later today and tomorrow’ said Robert Carroll, Transportation Manager for the City, in a press release.

He expects it will take all this week and most of next week to clear all the windrows on Priority 2 roads,

“We should have all of the bus routes plowed in a couple days but it will take a lot more time to pick up all the windrows,” he said.

Carroll estimates between 3,000 and 5,000 loads of snow will be picked up from windrows. There will also be that much in bulbs of cul-de-sacs.

The press release indicates school zones are first priority for snow clearing, but not during school hours. Carroll says it’ll take two weeks to clear all residential areas.

“There is lots of snow and it’s a big job to get through it all but we are hitting it full power with all our available city-owned equipment and a couple dozen units from contractors hauling snow and plowing,” he said in the release.

Parking bans continue in permanent snow routes and vehicles should be off the road on snow plowing days.

 

****************************************************************************************************************************************************

The County of Grande Prairie has also issued a release telling residents they are making main paved roads a priority.

“The crews dedicated to snow removal in County hamlets has begun clearing roads in Clairmont north of 108 Avenue, as well as in La Glace,” said a release.

“Later this week and once roads in Clairmont north of 108 Ave are complete, the crew will clear roads in Clairmont south of 108 Avenue, which includes the subdivisions of Whispering Ridge and Westlake Village. Once this area is complete, the crew will move onto the subdivision of Wedgewood.”

The County advises people not to be parked on the road during snow removal, and to not pile snow onto the roads from their properties.

“Crews will be clearing driveways for seniors and physically disabled who receive snowplow services through the Seniors Snow Plow Program once all major, arterial and collector roads have been cleared, as per the County’s snow removal policy,” said the release.

For more information about the snow removal procedure in the County, visit www.countygp.ab.ca/roadmaintenance.

by Jordan Parker