City of Saskatoon Emergency Response Plan Update: March 5

With the City of Saskatoon receiving between 30 and 40 cm of snow accumulation since Saturday morning, the Roadways team has activated the Emergency Response Plan  (ERP). The plan is activated when more than 25 cm of snow falls and streets are impassable for light vehicles. The City’s Emergency Operation Centre has been activated to collaborate with critical infrastructure partners throughout the city. 

A summary of the work underway includes: 

• Work is progressing very well and is ahead of schedule. 

• 100 per cent of Priority 1 Streets, 75 per cent of Priority 2 Streets (expected completion by noon) and 45 per cent of Priority 3 Streets (expected completion by midnight, Wednesday, March 6) have been graded. 

• Sander trucks continue to spread sand throughout the day on these streets to increase traction.  

• Because work has proceeded so well, the plan is to move into residential areas and start clearing local streets during the night shift on Wednesday, March 6. A list of initial neighbourhoods for local street snow grading is expected to be available at saskatoon.ca/snow tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6, and continuously updated as crews make progress – please watch for further information this week. 

• Crews will move into industrial areas after all local streets in residential areas are completed. After that, crews can start addressing alley access; problematic alleys may be addressed sooner pending available resources.   

• The need for the last phase of the plan (Phase 5), which involves city-wide snow removal, will be assessed in the coming days considering factors such as weather conditions and the proximity to the end of the winter season. 

• For a detailed timeline please review the Emergency Response Plan infographic.  

• Right now there are many tall snowpiles along the roadways. Sight-lines may be reduced so drivers should proceed with caution near intersections and crosswalks. 

A reminder that during an ERP activation, posted temporary parking restrictions will not be used. Vehicles will be allowed to remain on streets and residents are encouraged to park their vehicles off the streets into parking lots, garages and driveways whenever possible. 

Stay in the know about snow grading efforts and the list of Priority Streets by visiting saskatoon.ca/snow and following the City’s social media channels. Check the latest Snow & Ice Report posted to saskatoon.ca/snowreport. A regularly-updated map of which Priority Streets have been completed is available at saskatoon.ca/prioritystreetsmap. 

The majority of civic services and facilities are now open for regular business and operating normally with a few exceptions:  

Saskatoon Transit  

• Fixed-route service is being maintained. Detours and delays are still expected as operators navigate clear roadways.   

• Access Transit will operate under normal conditions on clear and accessible roadways.  

• OnDemand service will operate on cleared roadways that are accessible to operators.  

• The Transit Customer Service Centre will be open for walk-in customers and phone lines (306-975-3100) will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  

• Check Saskatoon Transit service alerts for detours or temporary bus stop closures at saskatoontransit.ca/service-alerts. and  

• View real-time bus locations on third-party apps like Transit and Google Transit on desktop. Pin your routes to receive service alert push notifications. 

Leisure Facilities 

• All Leisure Centres (Cosmo (excluding Cosmo Arena), Lakewood and Lawson Civic Centres, Saskatoon Field House and Shaw Centre) are closed today Tuesday, March 5. They are anticipated to re-open Wednesday, March 6, with normal operating hours. 

• Visit saskatoon.ca/servicealerts for the latest impacts to City facilities and services. 

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Safety Reminders 

• The Saskatchewan Health Authority reminds residents to be careful when you go out to shovel. Shoveling is a significant workout and can put a lot of strain on your heart and back. Follow their recent tips. 

• When shoveling snow, take some time to clear any fire hydrants of ice and snow near your property. In case of a fire, firefighters need to be able to spot and access fire hydrants quickly to protect people and property. 

• Check intake pipes and exhaust vents that may be blocked with snow or ice and clear any snow away from the opening if it builds up. A plugged exhaust could result in carbon monoxide (CO) being pushed back into your home or cause your furnace to shut down.  

• For your safety and the safety of your children we ask that no one climbs on the snow piles or builds tunnels through them as the weight of that snow is very dangerous. 

• Do not push or blow snow into the street. This creates a greater risk for vehicles to get stuck. Instead, pile the snow on your property, as per Bylaw No. 8463 The Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw, 2005.