News Releases

Snow grading has been completed on all Priority 1 and 2 streets, and most Priority 3 streets are also finished. Crews are now focusing on cleaning up Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) and finishing school zones, with snow removal in these areas beginning tonight. 

In addition, crews are addressing localized areas of concern and any missed sections. Overnight, snow was cleared from ramps on Circle Drive bridges and overpasses, and this work will continue tonight. 

The City is also seeing improvements in mobility on residential streets, as snow continues to pack down and stabilize, making travel easier for all. The City would also like to remind residents to avoid clearing snow from residential roadways on their own or hiring private contractors. 

Skid steers are clearing snow from accessible loading zones on priority streets, as well as bus stops, to maintain access for residents. Contractor crews will continue to clear sidewalks throughout the city. 

Let’s continue to be good neighbours—look out for each other, keep walkways and driveways clear. Please remember that snow piles can be dangerous for children to play on or dig in, as they may conceal hidden hazards and equipment may be working on or near them at any time. Parents and guardians are urged to keep children safe by avoiding these areas.  

A reminder to all residents: Please avoid blowing or pushing snow onto the streets. This can obstruct mobility for everyone and create potential safety risks for drivers and pedestrians alike. 

To stay updated on the city’s snow clearing progress, residents can monitor the Priority Street Snow Grading Map. For more information on winter road maintenance, visit saskatoon.ca/snow. Be sure to check the latest Snow & Ice Report on saskatoon.ca/SnowReport for up-to-date service alerts. 

Road conditions may affect Saskatoon Transit. For updates on fixed-route and Access Transit services, visit saskatoontransit.ca, check real-time mobile apps, or refer to service alerts on transit and Google Maps. 

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we work to maintain safe driving conditions in Saskatoon. 

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

NEW

29TH ST W ROAD CLOSED FROM AVE C N TO AVE D N
(Service line replacement)
Start: November 27, 7:00 a.m. End: November 28, 4:30 p.m.

8TH ST E EB RIGHT TURN LANE CLOSED AT CIRCLE DR E
(Manhole inspection)
Start: November 27, 10:00 a.m. End: November 27, 2:00 p.m.

ONGOING

MILLAR AVE ROAD CLOSED FROM CIRCLE DR E TO 45TH STREET E
(Unplanned water main repair)
Start: November 26, 7:00 a.m. End: November 27, 5:00 p.m.

24TH ST E WB LANES CLOSED FROM 6TH AVE N TO 5TH AVE N
(SL&P construction)
Start: August 7, 8:00 a.m. End: November 27, 5:00 p.m.

4TH AVE N NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 22ND ST E TO 23RD ST E
(Vault repairs)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 29, 4:00 p.m.

19TH ST E EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 3RD AVE S
(Construction)
Start: November 19, 7:00 a.m. End: December 11, 5:00 p.m.

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: December 13, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 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 around the clock to keep our streets safe and navigable after the weekend snowfall. All Priority 1 streets have been cleared, and as of this morning, significant progress has been made in grading Priority 2 and 3 streets. Snow removal in the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) will begin Wednesday night and is expected to take 5-6 days. 

Following completion in the BIDs, snow removal will commence on Priority 1 streets to make room for more snow and to improve sight lines. Crews will also begin snow removal in school zones on Wednesday night, with that work estimated to take 5-6 nights. There are currently 36 graders, 16 sanders, five plows addressing drifting and problem areas, and five sidewalk plows working across the city.   

Mobility on residential streets remains acceptable, and crews will continue to inspect and address any areas of concern or safety hazards as they arise. 

Please remember that snow piles can be dangerous for children to play on or dig in, as they may conceal hidden hazards and equipment may be working on or near them at any time. Parents and guardians are urged to keep children safe by avoiding these areas.  

Property owners must clear sidewalks within 48 hours following a snow event. Many residents face accessibility challenges, please be a good neighbour and help make our sidewalks accessible in all seasons, whether on foot, using a mobility device or pushing a stroller. A reminder to all residents: please do not blow or push snow onto the streets. Doing so reduces mobility for everyone and can create safety hazards. 

The status of snow clearing throughout the city can be monitored through the Priority Street Snow Grading Map. Learn about winter road maintenance at saskatoon.ca/snow. Stay in the know by checking the latest Snow & Ice Report posted to saskatoon.ca/SnowReport and checking for service alerts. 

Saskatoon Transit may be impacted by road conditions, please go to saskatoontransit.ca for messages to riders for fixed-route transit and Access Transit, and check the real-time mobile apps, transit and Google Maps, or visit saskatoontransit.ca/service-alerts.   

Thank you to residents for your patience and cooperation as we work to maintain safe and drivable roads throughout Saskatoon. 

To pay for these core investments, the City uses several non-tax revenue sources, including user fees, investment income, and government transfers, to name a few. Unfortunately, these are not always enough to pay for our community’s priorities.

Thus, the adjusted 2025 Budget proposes a 5.84% property tax increase to maintain service levels, fund strategic initiatives, and importantly, to help the City balance the operating budget, which it must do by law. Despite the proposed property tax increase, the City of Saskatoon has among the lowest property tax levels for both residential and non-residential properties in Canada.

The City’s 2024-25 Business Plan and Budget invests in the areas that matter most to the people of Saskatoon – transportation, public safety, and community support.” In particular, the 2025 Budget builds on the fiscal plan set out by City Council almost two years ago. It delivers record funding into essential projects, services, and programs that reflect the City’s ongoing efforts to balance fiscal sustainability with community priorities.

City Council will deliberate the 2025 Budget starting December 2, 2024.

Millar Avenue will be closed at 43rd Street on Tuesday, November 26, starting at 7:00 a.m. for a water main repair. 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.

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

NEW

MILLAR AVE INTERSECTION CLOSED AT 43RD ST E
(Water main repair)
Start: November 26, 7:00 a.m. End: November 26, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

29TH ST W ROAD CLOSED FROM IDYLWYLD DR N TO AVE B N
(Service connection replacements)
Start: November 25, 7:00 a.m. End: November 26, 5:00 p.m.

24TH ST E WB LANES CLOSED FROM 6TH AVE N TO 5TH AVE N
(SL&P construction)
Start: August 7, 8:00 a.m. End: November 27, 5:00 p.m.

4TH AVE N NB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 22ND ST E TO 23RD ST E
(Vault repairs)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 29, 4:00 p.m.

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: December 6, 5:00 p.m.

19TH ST E EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 3RD AVE S
(Construction)
Start: November 19, 7:00 a.m. End: December 11, 5:00 p.m.

BRIGHTON BLVD ROAD CLOSED FROM TASKAMANWA ST TO 8TH ST E
(Construction)
Use McOrmond Dr
Start: November 20, 2023, 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.

With the recent snowfall, the City is reminding residents that it is crucial to clear away any accumulated snow around your 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. Residents living on cul-de-sacs will also need to evaluate their circumstances 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 and facing in the same direction.

Suspended collections from Monday, November 25 have been rescheduled for Saturday, November 30. Collections will continue as scheduled for the remainder of the week. City crews will be driving down back lanes for neighbourhoods on Routes 1 and 2 only, prior to waste collection trucks arriving. This will pack down some of the snow in those lanes and minimize the risk of the trucks getting stuck.

Visit saskatoon.ca/cartcare for more information. Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this time.

Crews continue to make significant progress on clearing priority roads around Saskatoon. More private contractor help has been activated than a typical snow event of 5 cm or more of snow, with close to 40 graders responding. City officials have been out monitoring traffic flow and note that there is sufficient mobility on local streets.  

As a result City officials have decided to maintain the established winter maintenance level of service – which still provides options to deal with mobility issues as they arise in certain areas. 

While the city received 25 cm of snow using our standard measurements, snow accumulation alone is not sufficient for the Roadways Emergency Response Plan (ERP) activation. The snowfall amount is right at the threshold. Mobility and ability to navigate streets is another key consideration. The snow that fell was light powder snow that when compacted by traffic will see improved mobility over time. This is what we are seeing on many local streets and current assessments show acceptable mobility across Saskatoon. However, as conditions evolve, the City will continue monitoring local streets for mobility issues.  

Activating the full five phases of the ERP comes at a cost of approximately $18 to 20 million, which is a substantial expenditure. Instead, the City is addressing specific problem areas and evaluating local streets for mobility and safety.  

So, crews remain focused on the following:  

• Priority 1 streets (major roadways, access to emergency facilities) are cleared within 12 hours after snow ends. 

• Priority 2 streets (major transit routes and select collector roads) are cleared within 36 hours after snowfall 

• Priority 3 streets (school zones, neighbourhood connectors) are cleared within 72 hours after snowfall. 

• Local streets are addressed as necessary, with specific areas inspected and prioritized based on mobility and safety concerns. 

City crews have been working around the clock to grade streets, prioritizing expressways like Circle Drive, major intersections, bridge decks and transit routes. All Priority 1 streets have been cleared and some Priority 2 streets have been started, with all priority routes expected to be fully graded by Thursday morning. Crews will inspect challenging areas and address safety concerns. Snow removal from priority streets, downtown and school zones will be the next major objective. 

We commend the community for stepping up during this snow event—helping neighbours, staying off the roads where possible and allowing crews to perform their work efficiently. A reminder: do not blow or push snow onto the streets. This reduces mobility for everyone and is unkind to neighbours and others using the street. 

The status of snow clearing throughout the city can be monitored through the Priority Street Snow Grading Map. Learn about winter road maintenance at saskatoon.ca/snow. Stay in the know by checking the latest Snow & Ice Report posted to saskatoon.ca/SnowReport and checking for service alerts. 

Saskatoon Transit may be impacted by road conditions, please go to saskatoontransit.ca for messages to riders for fixed-route transit and Access Transit, and check the real-time mobile apps, transit and Google Maps, or visit saskatoontransit.ca/service-alerts.   

Stay safe Saskatoon and thank you for your cooperation. 

Saskatoon received 25 centimetres of snow throughout the weekend and everyone is digging out now that the snow is tapering off. City and extra contractor snow crews focused on keeping high-speed and high-traffic streets, intersections and bridge decks clear while it snowed and will begin moving through the priority street grading system over the next 72 hours.

Tonight, 36 graders, 15 sanders, 11 plows and five sidewalk plows will make some good progress on the freeways and major arterials and begin to address some bus routes where snow accumulation is affecting traffic movement. Following grading, the next priority will be snow removal from downtown and school zones. 

Crews will also start on City facility sidewalks, Meewasin Trail, park pathways with street lighting, pathways along freeways and arterials, and bridge/overpass walkways.

 How you can help us

1. Stay home if you can, as snow crews can make more progress clearing roads when fewer vehicles are out. Consider taking Saskatoon Transit if you must travel.
2. Clear your sidewalk within 48 hours on residential streets and within 24 hours in business areas.
3. Help your neighbour clear their sidewalk or dig out their vehicle, when possible.
4. Drivers, leave extra room for quick stopping and watch for blue and yellow flashing lights on road equipment. 

Learn more about winter road maintenance at saskatoon.ca/snow and stay in the snow with daily updates at saskatoon.ca/snowreport. 

Millar Avenue reopened to traffic Sunday morning after an emergency repair to a watermain at 43rd Street closed the area on Saturday. Water was restored and a Drinking Water Advisory is in place for local businesses. The excavation was filled in with gravel; however, additional work will be required in the coming days.

The City thanks everyone for their patience.