News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Conditions on Circle Drive expected to improve today as de-icing efforts progress
November 18, 2021 - 5:31am
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.
Repairs on Highway 16 overpass start Monday, November 22
November 18, 2021 - 11:00am
Highway 16 eastbound over Highway 11 will be closed starting Monday morning, November 22 for safety repairs to the bridge. This project is expected to take seven days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Eastbound traffic will be accommodated in the centre and median westbound lanes. Drivers can expect delays in this area while construction is underway and are asked to choose alternate routes if possible or plan for delays.
Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information is available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.
The City thanks everyone for their patience while this necessary work is carried out. For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.
City of Saskatoon is one of 95 global cities named as new generation of climate leaders on CDP 2021 A List
November 18, 2021 - 10:00am
Saskatoon has been recognized by CDP as one of 95 cities across the globe, and one of only 7 Canadian cities, that are taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency.
CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions. Designed to encourage and support cities to ramp up their climate action and ambition, CDP’s Cities A List is based on environmental data disclosed by cities to their unified reporting system.
To score an A, a city must disclose publicly and have a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target and a renewable energy target for the future, and have published a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. Many A List cities are also taking a variety of other leadership actions, including political commitment from a city’s Mayor to tackle climate change.
“We’re proud to be among the 7 Canadian cities leading the way on climate action,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The actions in our Climate Action Plan guide the City and the community over the next 30 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make Saskatoon more resilient against the changing climate.”
A List cities are taking twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A List cities, and also identify more than twice as many opportunities. Local examples include Saskatoon’s Home Energy Loan Program to help homeowners improve the energy performance of their homes, and the upcoming 2.2 MW Dundonald Avenue Solar Farm to enable Saskatoon Light & Power to generate renewable electricity for their customers.
“What gets measured, gets managed – Saskatoon is committed to managing its environmental risks and impact, and to building a safe and secure city for people to live and work in,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “Disclosing information is a critical step towards taking the right action, and towards cities and governments at all levels developing the right climate change policies.”
Saskatoon, and the other cities on this year’s A List, are also celebrated for showing that urgent and impactful climate action is achievable at a global level, and in cities with different climate realities and priorities. However, actions need to go further and faster to meet the new targets agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow earlier this month.
Visit cdp.net o view the full 2021 A List of cities and to find out more about this ambitious initiative.
Daily Road Report - November 18, 2021
November 17, 2021 - 3:00pm
*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.
NEW
MCORMOND DR SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN KENASCHUK LINK & KENASCHUK WAY
(Hydrant replacement)
Start: November 18, 7:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
1ST AVE S NB LANES CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Crane lift)
Two-way traffic maintained in SB lanes
Start: November 18, 8:00 a.m. End: November 18, 2:00 p.m.
RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE S TO YORK AVE
(Water main repair)
Start: November 18, 8:00 a.m. End: November 19, 4:00 p.m.
ATTRIDGE DR WB LANES CLOSED FROM CENTRAL AVE TO CIRCLE DR E
(Sign structure install)
Two-way traffic maintained in EB lanes
Start: November 18, 7:00 p.m. End: November 19, 7:00 a.m.
ONGOING
21ST ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 3RD AVE S
(Anode installation)
Start: November 9, 11:00 a.m. End: November 18, 5:00 p.m.
CIRCLE DR S WB SPEED REDUCTION FROM LORNE AVE TO DIEFENBAKER PARK RD
(Construction)
Start: November 15, 7:00 a.m. End: November 19, 5:00 p.m.
RUTH ST E ROAD CLOSED FROM VICTORIA AVE TO ROYAL AVE
(Connection replacements)
Start: November 15, 9:00 a.m. End: November 19, 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 closed between Clarence and York avenues starting Thursday
November 17, 2021 - 8:00am
Ruth Street will be closed between Clarence and York avenues starting Thursday, November 18, at 8:00 a.m. for water main repair work. The intersection at Ruth Street and Albert Avenue will be closed during this project. 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 is 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.