Initial local street snow grading neighbourhood list available at saskatoon.ca/snow

The City of Saskatoon received between 30 to 40 cm of snow accumulation from Saturday,March 2 to Monday,March 4. This prompted the City to activate the Roadways Emergency Response Plan (ERP), which includes a snow grading and removal program across the entire city. The plan is activated when more than 25 cm of snow falls and streets are impassable for light vehicles. 

Priority street grading throughout Saskatoon is nearing completion and a list of neighbourhoods for local street snow grading is now available at saskatoon.ca/snow. The list will be updated again once the City is able to assess the progress of the first 24 hours of grading operations. Local street snow grading is expected to take up to three days to complete. 

After local streets are complete: 

• Crews will move into industrial areas. 

• 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 snow piles along the roadways. Sight-lines may be reduced so drivers should proceed with caution near intersections and crosswalks. 

What you need to know about the local street grading program:  

• Parking restriction signage will not be posted in advance of grading in all neighbourhoods, with the exception of some streets that are too narrow for equipment to get down. Residents are encouraged to notify friends, family and neighbours that schedules will be available and updated at saskatoon.ca/snow. The schedules are working around regular waste and recycling collection pick-up dates.  

• If it is possible, residents are encouraged to move vehicles parked on the street prior to grading crews arriving. The City recognizes some vehicles are stuck, therefore vehicles left parked on the street will not be ticketed or towed. The equipment will work around vehicles that are not moved off the street.   

• The main priority with this program is to make all streets accessible. Snow will be graded and then piled in nearby parking lanes, boulevards, and medians. The City understands the piles restrict parking and cause visibility concerns. The City may be able to prioritize localized snow removal in areas where lack of visibility from the snow pile is causing a serious safety concern before the decision on city-wide snow removal is made. Please proceed around the snow piles with caution and do not let children play on them or dig into them as they are dangerous.  

• The City understands that residents are running out of places to pile the snow. Please do not to push or blow snow into the street (Bylaw No. 8463 The Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw, 2005) as it makes grading more difficult and creates a greater risk for vehicles to get stuck.  

• Curbside collections will continue as scheduled for the remainder of the week. The City is reminding residents that it is crucial to clear away any accumulated snow around curbside carts. Ensure the lids are free from ice and snow, allowing them to close securely. Proper cart placement will be key to successful collections. Residents are asked to roll out carts by 7 a.m. and place them in front of, or four feet to the side of, snowbanks to ensure collection truck arms can access carts. Visit saskatoon.ca/cartcare to learn more. 

• Residents living on cul-de-sacs will also need to evaluate their situation in order to decide what suits them best for proper cart placement. Coordinate with your neighbours to ensure carts are all in the same area, either in front of or beside the snow pile, and facing in the same direction. 

• The City’s Customer Care Centre continues to experience a high volume of calls. Please visit saskatoon.ca/snow to find the latest information and help answer many of your questions.   

Stay in the know about snow grading efforts 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.  

We thank residents for their cooperation and patience.