Conditions on Circle Drive expected to improve today as de-icing efforts progress

Even with continuous plowing and de-icing operations, Circle Drive remains icy in some spots this morning. Conditions along the City’s main freeway are expected to improve today and into tomorrow, as crews make progress with salting and sanding. Milder weather in the forecast will also help.

The combination of rain on November 15 leaving a thick layer of ice on the street, followed by 10 centimetres of snow that fell and heavy winds creating drifts, made de-icing on Circle Drive more complex than in a typical snowstorm. First, all snow had to be removed once it stopped falling, as straight salt on top of hard packed snow doesn’t reach the ice to start softening it. Plows were out during the snow and steadily once it stopped, all the while applying the mixture of sand and salt for traction.  

Today, now that the wind is down and snow has been plowed along all 252 lane kilometres of Circle Drive, including on and off ramps, the focus will continue to be on applying salt to break the bond between the ice and road, with 20 sanding/salting trucks moving around the city. City sanders spray a liquid de-icer on the potash salt as it's applied to help it stick in heavy traffic. The salt melts the ice and dries the roads where there is little or no snowpack. 

Sidewalk crews will have City-managed sidewalks and pathways plowed within the 48-hour requirement under the Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw.

We thank Saskatoon road and sidewalk users for using caution and watching for our crews out there.