News Releases

Starting at 10:30 a.m. January 24, the eastbound curb lane on Circle Drive West between 33rd Street and Airport Drive will be closed while crews remove a damaged sign.

Restrictions are expected to be lifted by 2:00 p.m., weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.  The City thanks everyone for their patience.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through a work zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Beginning Monday, January 20, grader crews will be clearing compacted snow by neighbourhood on streets across the city. This is a proactive approach to reduce the snow pack on the roadways.  Snow pack on the roadways is what allows for the formation of ruts to develop.  As part of the increased level of service for snow management through the new dedicated road levy funding, provisions were made to include city-wide snow clearing.  The levy will be used to increase road reconstruction and rehabilitation, and increase road maintenance services.

The city-wide snow clearing will be performed only on streets that are not already designated on the priority street network for snow clearing.  These priority streets receive multiple clearings throughout the winter and do not have the applicable snow pack development.  Multiple two-grader crews will clear streets that are outside of the priority system in two neighbourhoods each day.  For residential neighbourhoods, the snow clearing will be performed during the weekdays, beginning with the first identified neighbourhoods Montgomery and Willowgrove.  The first week schedule follows and  subsequent schedules will be posted on the City’s website as the snow clearing progresses.

“The current snow pack across the city is approximately 4-5 inches, which means that ruts can and are developing at that depth.  The presence of the unseasonably warm weather we are experiencing can serve to accelerate the development of ruts that become more problematic as temperatures drop and the ruts freeze,” says Director of Public Works, Pat Hyde.  “To prevent this from happening now or in the spring after more snow has fallen, we are being proactive and clearing the streets as close to the pavement as we can.”

In order for an efficient clearing that maximizes and maintains wide driving lanes, and allows for storage of snow, all vehicles must be removed from the street.  Where and when possible, grader crews will do their best to leave at least one parking space clear for each house.  This may not always be achievable as the snow needs to be pushed to the side of the roads for storage. 

Yellow ‘No Parking’ sandwich board signs, supplemented with matching paper No Parking signs in some cases, will be posted 36 hours in advance of the scheduled clearing to notify drivers to move their vehicles.  The yellow, high-visibility sandwich boards will be posted throughout the neighbourhoods on the main roads, important intersections and high-volume traffic areas.  Vehicles left on the street within the designated neighbourhoods at 7:00 a.m. will be relocated and ticketed and ordered to pay a fine of $100 (no reduction available).  Drivers can locate their vehicle with the Find My Vehicle! application on the City’s website or by calling the Public Works customer service line at 306-975-2476 or public.works@saskatoon.ca

The street clearing schedule may be required to be changed as the program progresses, depending on the conditions of the streets.  If it snows, the clearing program will be on hold as crews are deployed to clear the priority streets.  Any neighbourhood/street that is cancelled will be rescheduled and No Parking signs will be re-posted again to notify residents.  Visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/snow to learn more about the City’s snow and ice management program or contact the Public Works customer service line at 306-975-2476 or public.works@saskatoon.ca.

Street Clearing Schedule – January 20 - 24

Monday, January 20 – Montgomery and Willowgrove

Tuesday, January 21 – Silverwood Heights and Wildwood

Wednesday, January 22 – Arbor Creek and Hampton Village

Thursday, January 23 – Fairhaven and Sutherland

Friday, January 24 – Lawson Heights and Silverspring

Traffic is currently restricted to one lane on Faithful Avenue between 51st Street and 52nd Street for an emergency water main repair.

All restrictions are expected to be lifted by the end of day January 7, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 24, the 25th Street westbound median lane approaching 6th Avenue will be closed.  Crews require access to underground utilities.

It is expected the work will be completed by 3:00 p.m. that day, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.  The City thanks everyone for their patience.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.
Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Environment Canada has ended its wind warning for Saskatoon and area.  As a result, the City’s Level 1 Emergency Alert is over as well.

Over the course of Wednesday evening, January 15, the abnormal above freezing temperatures dropped which increased possibility slippery road conditions.  However, sanding crews worked overnight to address any problem roadways. 

City staff yesterday responded to a number of service disruptions or operational challenges throughout the day. An Emergency Level 1 Alert allowed for the sharing of information across civic departments and divisions.  

The following is an update on the City of Saskatoon services:
Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P)

All systems are operating normally and at time of release there are no current power outages.

Credit Union Centre (CUC)

As of 11:12pm last night, there were no concerns raised by CUC staff.

Facilities

Operating normally

Transit

Normal operations
Public Works
Snow & Ice

Sanding crews worked overnight to address any problem roadways. A more detailed update will be available later today.

Saskatoon Landfill
The Landfill is open to the public for normal operations. 

Recycling and Garbage Collections
Garbage collection continues as normal today including neighbourhoods that may have been missed.  Also, many residents are reporting missing or damaged carts this morning.  To help us resolve the issue, please phone the Waste Stream Customer Service Line at 306-975-2486.

Solid waste truck operators attempted to upright as many carts as they could;  the City would like to thank everyone who took a few extra minutes to pick up overturned carts and cleaned up any spilled material throughout yesterday’s wind event.

Parks

Parks crews were able to address five tree-related calls last night.  Call volume is currently normal.

With the wind speeds down we do not expect an escalation of priority hazardous tree-damage service calls.  If City-owned trees are damaged and residents are concerned they may be a safety hazard, please phone the Parks division at 306-975-2890 which will be open until 4:45 p.m. today.  Afterwards, please call the 24-hour Public Works hotline at 306-975-2476.

Transportation
The traffic signal pole that was downed at Central Avenue and Attridge Drive is expected to be repaired this morning.
Information for Residents and Visitors

The City would again like to remind residents and visitors to keep safety a priority during and after extreme weather events such as this one.  In an emergency, residents are to phone 911 for immediate assistance.

Today, the City recommends residents examine their trees and property during the daylight hours to ensure the area is safe.
For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.