Photo Courtesy Megan Smith's Facebook Page

By Tanner Smith

Snow Removal

The City has given tips for residents having driveways blocked by a windrow

Jan 17, 2023 | 6:00 AM

After a Grande Prairie day home owner had access to their driveway cut off due to a windrow, the City has sent an email to EverythingGP including tips on what residents should do when their driveway is blocked by snow removal crews.

The City said in the email that in most situations when a driveway is blocked by a windrow, crews will clear it before moving on to the next neighborhood.

However, in some extreme cases, windrows across driveways are left behind. If that happens residents should call 311 right away, so the call centre can get in touch with the crew and send them back as fast as possible.

Megan Smith, the owner of the day home, says she followed all the proper procedures, making sure the front of her driveway was cleared because she knew plowing was happening. However, she still woke up with a windrow blocking off the access to her home.

” Everything was cleared and ready, I knew today was going to be a snow-removal day, and actually when one of the parents dropped her baby off, she had to pass her to me over this windrow in my driveway.”

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Smith did make a post about this incident on Facebook and had residents who previously had a windrow blocking their driveway tell her that it was their responsibility to clear it themselves.

“I actually made a post about it and there were a few comments saying they were responsible and they had to do it themselves. They said the sooner you do it, the better because the longer you wait, the heavier it gets and freezes.”

Smith added the City was very quick to send someone over to clear her driveway after she called.

The city’s Policy 606 indicates that windrows across driveway openings will be cleared during residential snow clearings, so residents are not responsible for the clearing of a window that was left by crews.

Phtoto Courtesy Megan Smith’s Facebook Page