snowclearing

Anyone who drives in Edmonton should be able to relate to what Lorne Gunter opines about our city streets. Beyond writing about the ruts and lack of lane visibility, he questions why snow clearing in a winter city such as ours, does not warrant higher priority and concludes the main problem is not the weather, it’s the bureaucratic mindset.

Residents on what has become known as Candy Cane Lane have an agreement that the city would take care of snow clearing during the Candy Cane Lane event December 13–January 3. Needless to say residents were somewhat peeved about receiving Icy sidewalk warnings hours after it snowed, the day before their agreement with the city kicks in and think the warnings were uncalled for.

City of Edmonton spokesperson Tania Gonzalez said enforcement officers were in the area from late November and on December 12 inspecting the street and informed some residents who did not have their sidewalks cleared. Officers advised those residents that the potential consequence of failing to clear their sidewalks could be a fine or clean up by City contractors at their expense. The pre-inspection in the weeks leading to December 13, 2024, ensures the ongoing safety of pedestrians and that large accumulations of dangerous and difficult-to-remove snow and ice packs are not built up prior to the first clearing by City crews

Every year residents of Candy Cane Lane are invaded and inconvenienced by thousands of people who come to look at the lights and displays. Some of the residents of Candy Cane Lane must feel the City is acting like the Grinch who wants to steal the Christmas and hopefully any such sentiments can soon be forgotten.

Edmonton has just experienced its first significant snowfall of the year which means a massive snow clearing operation will soon be underway to clear arterial roads, collector roads, bus routes (roads marked with seasonal no parking signage) and roads within business improvement areas. To aid the snow clearing operation a Phase 1 parking ban will go into effect today, Sunday at 7 p.m.and will remain in effect for three to five days, Crews and equipment will be working 24 hours a day until Phase 1 roads are clear. Vehicles parked on parking ban routes after 7 p.m. on Sunday may be ticketed and/or towed.

Motorists are reminded to drive with extra caution because roads are slippery and snow clearing crews room will be working.

I'm not one who is ready and waiting for the first snowfall there are some who are, including city workers at various levels. Mark Beare, director of infrastructure operations, said teams last year were somewhat reactive when the snow was late in coming. To counter that teams will be more proactive with primary snow and ice clearing responsibility and a secondary redeployment activity if it's a milder winter.

The snow removal budget for the 2024-25 season is $66 million which will cover a staff of about 600 members who will be out working 24-7 as soon as the snow starts.

Go to the City of Edmonton's website (below) for more information on winter travel.

We've already had our first snowfall which is reminder what we can expect the next few months as well as some of the issues faced last year. Even though this years snow clearing budget is less than previous years the city says the changes they made should improve service.