News Releases

The City of Saskatoon recently received in excess of 55 cm of snow accumulation within a six day-span, including more than 35 cm of snow this past weekend. 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 now complete, far outpacing the 96 hour-timeline identified in the ERP. Snow grading in residential neighbourhoods and industrial areas is underway ahead of schedule and is expected to take up to six days to complete. For a list of neighbourhoods where grading will take place visit saskatoon.ca/snow. The list is continuously updated as the City assesses the progress of grading operations.  

Grading on streets in residential and industrial areas will also reduce the potential for rutting once temperatures begin to fluctuate. 

After local streets in residential neighbourhoods are complete: 

• Crews have started to address many tall snow piles along the roadways where sightlines may be reduced. Drivers should proceed with caution near intersections and crosswalks.  

• Crews can start addressing alley access; problematic alleys may be addressed sooner pending available resources. 

The last phase of the snowstorm response will involve partial implementation of the Phase 5 of the ERP. Snow piles will only be removed from Priority 1 streets. Snow removal on Priority 1 streets is expected to begin on Monday March 11 and should take approximately two weeks. Snow removal has already begun in school zones and Business Improvement Districts. Changes in weather may cause these timelines to be adjusted. 

Snow removal on residential streets will not take place unless there is a localized serious safety concern, which will be assessed and addressed, as required. 

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

• We use an ‘outside- in’ and ‘inside- out’ approach to scheduling street snow grading due to the higher impact in these core and outlying neighbourhoods. We also do our best to schedule around collections to avoid conflicts. Outlying areas are often impacted by drifting snow and wind. Core areas are often higher density, are designed differently than newer areas with less room to park and to put snow.  

• 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. Please proceed around the snow piles with caution and do not let children play on them or dig into them as they are dangerous. 

• 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. Residents are encouraged to dig their cars out, asking for help from the community if needed. 

• 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. In cases where such streets have been signed in advance, vehicles will be towed to the closest available parking and residents will be encouraged to check the ‘Find My Vehicle’ app.  

• Residents are encouraged to notify friends, family and neighbours that schedules will be available and updated at saskatoon.ca/snow.  

• For those living in apartments, leaving space for parking lanes won’t always be possible with this much snow, as our priority is improving mobility in the street.  

• We do what we can to keep sidewalks clear, but this amount of snow can make that difficult after clearing driving lanes. 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. There are some sidewalks that are maintained by the city that as part of Phase 4 to improve mobility of active transportation, these are underway but will take some time to complete.  

• 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.  

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM KELVIN AVE TO MELROSE AVE
(Sanitary sewer service repairs)
Start: March 7, 8:00 a.m. End: March 7, 5:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR S WB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE TO SPADINA CRES W
(Streetlight repair)
Start: March 7, 9:00 a.m. End: March 7, 3:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD CRES NB LANES CLOSED FROM 11TH ST W TO SASKATCHEWAN CRES W
(Sewer lining)
Start: March 7, 9:00 a.m. End: March 7, 3:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE NB & SB LEFT TURN LANES CLOSED AT 108TH ST W
(Sewer lining)
Start: March 7, 9:00 a.m. End: March 7, 3:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE NB & SB LEFT TURN LANES CLOSED AT 109TH ST W
(Sewer lining)
Start: March 7, 9:00 a.m. End: March 7, 3:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR EB & WB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED AT CLARENCE AVE N
(Sewer lining)
Start: March 7, 10:00 a.m. End: March 7, 3:00 p.m.

RUTH ST E EB LANES & WB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED FROM CUMBERLAND AVE S TO BLAIN AVENUE
(Sanitary sewer inspection)
WB traffic squeezed into the parking lane.
Start: March 7, 10:00 a.m. End: March 7, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Ruth Street will be closed between Melrose and Kelvin avenues on Thursday, March 7th, starting at 8:00 a.m. for sanitary sewer service repairs. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take one day to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction. 

Direct bus service from the Special Events Stop (23rd Street and 2nd Avenue) to see the Harlem Globetrotters at SaskTel Centre on Wednesday, March 6, at 7:00 p.m., is available at the following times: 

• 5:45 p.m. 
• 6:25 p.m.

Post-event drop-off is the downtown terminal and regular fares apply ($3.00 per trip). Fare can be purchased on your mobile phone using either the TGo or transit app, transfers and passes are also accepted. Typically, buses arrive onsite 30 minutes prior to the end of the event. 

Plan your trip to events at SaskTel Centre on Route 333 using the Transit app up to two weeks in advance. Check out the Transit+ feature to help make connections that combine Transit with OnDemand Transit, riide, and Uber. Download the Transit app from the Apple Store or Google Play. 

Transit service times for special events at SaskTel Centre and other popular destinations can always be found at SaskatoonTransit.ca/plan-my-trip/popular-destinations. Experience the convenience of using Saskatoon Transit to attend all your favourite events. 

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.  

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM KELVIN AVE TO MELROSE AVE
(Sanitary sewer service repairs)
Start: March 6, 8:00 a.m. End: March 6, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Ruth Street will be closed between Melrose and Kelvin avenues on Wednesday, March 6th, starting at 8:00 a.m. for sanitary sewer service repairs. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take one day to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction. 

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. 

  - - - 

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. 

With the City of Saskatoon receiving more than 25 cm of snow accumulation since Saturday morning and streets being impassable for light vehicles, the Roadways team has activated the Emergency Response Plan  (ERP). 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: 

• Saskatoon has in the range of 1600 lane-km of Priority Roads – that’s roughly the distance from City Hall to Vancouver. So far, approximately 95 per cent of Priority 1 Streets, 45 per cent of Priority 2 Streets and 25 per cent of Priority 3 Streets have been graded, far ahead of the anticipated schedule from this morning. 

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

• By midnight tonight, Monday, March 4, we expect all Priority 1 Streets to be completed and will immediately proceed with grading on the remaining Priority 2 Streets, which are expected all to be graded by noon tomorrow.  

• Priority 3 Streets are expected to be complete by midnight on Thursday, March 7.  

• The plan is to move into residential areas and start clearing local streets during the night shift on Thursday, March 7. A list of initial neighbourhoods for local street snow grading will be available at saskatoon.ca/snow by Thursday, March 7 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. 

Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed about snow grading efforts and the list of Priority Streets by visiting saskatoon.ca/snow and following the City’s social media channels. Stay in the know by checking 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. 

A summary of civic services operating normally: 

• City Hall remains open and the majority of civic services are operating as normal.  

• Despite ongoing operational and weather impacts this morning, Saskatoon Transit is maintaining full service this afternoon with no delays exceeding 15 minutes. However, detours and delays can be expected as operators navigate accessible streets. For updates check the real-time mobile app, transit or visit saskatoontransit.ca/service-alerts. 

• Access Transit will continue trips for essential services and medical appointments. Customers are asked to reschedule leisure travel.   

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

• City Indoor Rinks have resumed regular operations.  

• The landfill is open but snowy and windy conditions exist so please proceed with caution. 

• Parks is on track to clearing pathways according to route priorities. Within 48 hours of snowfall, snow clearing occurs on sidewalks adjacent to parks and all lighted parkways and some unlighted pathways. Excludes crusher dust (unpaved) pathways. 

• Missed blue cart collection on Monday, March 4 is rescheduled for Saturday, March 9. Blue Cart affected area(s) include Route 4: Briarwood, College Park, College Park East, Lakeridge, Lakewood Urban Centre, Rosewood. 

• Missed black cart collection on Monday, March 4 rescheduled for Saturday, March 9. Black Cart affected areas include Route 1: Avalon, Buena Vista, Exhibition, Haultain, Nutana, Queen Elizabeth. 

• Missed Green Cart collection on Monday, March 4 rescheduled for Saturday March 9.  Green Cart affected areas include Route 2: Adelaide/Churchill, Holliston, Nutana Park, Stonebridge, The Willows.

• All curbside collections for Tuesday, March 5 will go ahead as planned. Please watch for Service Alerts, updates on your Saskatoon Waste Wizard app or go to saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar. 

• The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo will re-open tomorrow, March 5, with normal operating hours.  

Other Impacted City Operations 

Leisure Facilities 

• All Leisure Centres (Cosmo (excluding Cosmo Arena), Lakewood and Lawson Civic Centres, Saskatoon Field House and Shaw Centre) are closed Monday, March 4 and will remain closed Tuesday, March 5. They are anticipated to re-open Wednesday, March 6, with normal operating hours. 

Building Standards 

• All scheduled building and plumbing inspections for Monday March, 4 and Tuesday, March 5 are cancelled.  Customers with scheduled inspections will be contacted and arrangements will be made to rebook. 

Impound Lot 

• The impound lot is closed for the remainder of the day. Updates on when the service is restored will be available on saskatoon.ca/servicealerts. 

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

- - - 

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. 

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

MCKERCHER DR SB CURB LANE CLOSED AT ACADIA DR
(Hydrant replacement)
Start: March 5, 9:00 a.m. End: March 5, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 7:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.