News Releases

As Saskatoon transitions into spring, City crews are proactively managing the melt by clearing snow and ice from priority drainage routes and known problem areas. While some temporary pooling is expected, crews are prepared to respond to drainage concerns as needed. 

How Residents Can Help 

If you notice significant water pooling or a blocked catch basin, check if it's covered by snow or ice. Clearing it, if safe to do so, can help water drain more efficiently. If the issue persists, report it to the Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476 or customercare@saskatoon.ca to ensure it is properly categorized and prioritized for response. 

What to Expect 

As temperatures rise, standing water may become more noticeable, particularly in areas with heavy snow accumulation. Crews will inspect and prioritize emergency flooding locations that pose a risk to property, major roadways, and pedestrian access, aiming to address these within the same day. 

Non-emergency pooling—such as water collecting on residential streets that does not impact traffic—may take several days to resolve as temperatures fluctuate and melting continues. 

Back Lanes 

Gravel back lanes can become muddy and uneven as the ground thaws. While it may seem like they need immediate grading after the snow melts, heavy equipment cannot be used until the lanes have dried enough to prevent further damage. Crews will begin grading operations as soon as surface conditions allow, ensuring all back lanes are addressed as part of the regular spring maintenance cycle. 

Potholes & Utility Cuts 

As snow melts, water seeps into road cracks, leading to soft gravel utility cuts where a utility company has excavated the road for a repair, and potholes. Crews are maintaining utility cuts and performing temporary cold-mix repairs on high-priority streets, with permanent hot-mix asphalt repairs beginning in mid to late April when hot-mix becomes available from suppliers. Residents can report potholes via the Customer Care Centre or the Report-a-Pothole tool at saskatoon.ca/potholes. 

Street Sweeping 

While snow-clearing equipment remains on standby for any late-season storms, spring pre-sweeping is expected to begin in mid-April, starting with Priority streets and Business Improvement Districts. Removing debris and sand early helps minimize dust and prepares streets for full sweeping operations later in the season. 

For more information on spring melt preparations and lot drainage tips, visit saskatoon.ca/snowmelt.

Lorne Avenue will be closed between 8th and 7th streets starting Thursday, February 27, at 8:30 a.m. for a connection replacement. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take two days 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.

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

NEW

11TH ST W EB LANES CLOSED FROM AVE R S TO AVE Q S
(Tree maintenance)
Start: February 26, 9:00 a.m. End: February 26, 1:00 p.m.

33RD ST W EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM AVE B N TO IDYLWYLD DR N
(Sign installation)
Start: February 26, 9:00 a.m. End: February 26, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

8TH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM MCORMOND DR TO ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road construction)
No access to Zimmerman Rd from 8th St
Start: June 10, 7:00 a.m. End: February 26, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 7:00 a.m. End: September 26, 2025, 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.

Crews have been working day and night clearing snow from residential and industrial streets across the city, with 30 of Saskatoon’s 65 neighbourhoods completed as of Tuesday morning. The goal remains to reduce the six to seven inches (15 to 18 cm) of compacted snow and ice on streets to below four inches (10 cm or less), helping to prevent severe rutting and mobility challenges as temperatures rise. 

With warmer weather continuing this week, graders have been able to cut through more snow and ice pack, improving road conditions, and ensuring long-term mobility as we approach spring. 

What you should expect: 

• Snow is being stored in parking lanes, with efforts to maintain as much street width as possible. 

• Some streets will be narrowed due to snow storage, but roads will remain passable. 

• Snow removal is limited to select narrow streets where additional space is needed for mobility. 

• Overnight snow removal on priority streets will continue.  

• Crews are working to keep catch basins open where possible, prioritizing flood-prone areas to improve drainage. 

Residents are encouraged to move vehicles off-street where possible to support effective clearing. 

To view the residential street clearing schedule, visit saskatoon.ca/snow. 

The warmer weather is also causing water pooling on some streets and in back lanes. If safe to do so, clear catch basins blocked by ice or snow to help drainage, or contact the City’s Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476. Avoid driving through puddles, as they may also be hiding a pothole. Please report potholes that have formed as a result of the snow melt through the Report a Pothole map.  

Residents are reminded to keep an eye on their own properties. Ensuring that water can drain away from your home, clearing any blocked drainage paths, and working with neighbours to direct meltwater safely can all help prevent issues. For more information and tips for improving drainage visit saskatoon.ca/springmelt. 

The City of Saskatoon is proud to announce its recognition as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2025. This honour reflects the City's ongoing commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

"At the City, we want our employee population to reflect the residents that we serve every day and have our community see themselves in our organization. Every year we are improving, and we remain committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive," says Chelsey Mack, Director of HR Shared Services.

The City’s diversity and inclusiveness initiatives are wide-ranging and ongoing from reaching out to community through career fairs and recruitment presentations, to hosting a Reconciliation Town Hall for employees where a smudging ceremony was held in council chambers for the first time.

The City also values the essential connection between mental wellness and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels empowered to be their authentic selves, free from the need to hide any part of their identity,” says Mack.

Canada's Best Diversity Employers recognizes employers across Canada that have exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs. This competition recognizes successful diversity initiatives in a variety of areas, including programs for employees from five groups: (a) women; (b) members of visible minorities; (c) persons with disabilities; (d) Indigenous peoples; and (e) lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) peoples.

Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2025 are published and distributed online today in The Globe and Mail and on Eluta.ca. The City has now been honoured with this award for the tenth time.