4.15 SNOW PLOWING & REMOVAL POLICY
Snow fall amount, density of snow, humidity, rising or falling temperatures, wind velocity and direction along with the time of year, all play a part in how the Town’s Public Works Department responds to any particular snow event. If a Town wide plowing program is implemented, it will be completed immediately after a snow event.
In the event of an emergency, snow plowing equipment will be diverted in order to assist police, fire or ambulance emergency vehicles as required.
Driveway approach clearing will be taking place as well, but may not be completed immediately after plowing.
The Town of Ste. Anne’s Public Works Department bases its response to winter snow events on the following principles:
- That Town streets remain passable and are returned to safe winter driving conditions as soon as possible;
- That the Public Works Department response is tailored to the nature and magnitude of the snow event and the necessary resources immediately made available;
- That Town streets are cleared in a priority order, which is based on the classification and volume of traffic using each street.
During any snow event the Public Works Department appreciates your cooperation, please be patient, we will get to your street as soon as possible.
The Town of Ste. Anne is not liable for damage to grass, private fixtures, driveway markers or other privately-owned property on a Town of Ste. Anne boulevard or property as a result of snow clearing or windrow clearing.
Snow Routes: Snow plowing and/or snow removal are conducted according to a priority system. When storms are continuous, or closely follow one another, operations will be repeated or continued on the routes of the highest priority, before moving onto routes of a lesser priority. These route designations include the following:
Priority One (P1)
Includes routes that primarily consist of arterial and collector streets, Emergency routes, School bus routes and some selected residential streets.
The clearing of snow on these streets is the main emphasis of the snow clearing program following a snow event. Town employees however may be clearing other streets at the same time that the P1 routes are being cleared.
Depending on conditions these streets are normally cleared in the first 24 hours after plowing commences.
Priority Two (P2)
Includes all remaining streets and roads that are the responsibility of the Town of Ste. Anne.
Snow clearing on these streets will take place at the same time or immediately after the P1 routes are cleared.
Snowfall accumulations in the range of 6 to 13 cm (2.5 to 5 inches) are usually left to pack on the street and accumulations greater than this amount trigger a snow plowing program.
Typically, these routes are cleared in approximately 24 hours following P1 plowing.
Provincial Roads:
The Department of Manitoba Infrastructure & Transportation is responsible for the plowing and removal of snow on some designated streets and frontage roads within the Town of Ste. Anne. The following streets are under Provincial jurisdiction for snow plowing:
- Centrale Ave.
- Traverse St.
There are a number of private streets within the Town of Ste. Anne which are the responsibility of the developer and/or owner for snow removal.
Sidewalks & Walking Paths:
Designated walking/bike paths have a priority to be cleared as soon as possible in conjunction with the P1 streets. Designated sidewalks are cleared after the P1 and P2 routes are near completion.
Private businesses are required to clear the sidewalk adjacent to their business before 10:00 hours on each day, following every snow fall. Please refer to the aforementioned clause of the Traffic By-law for more specific details in this regard.
Driveway Approaches:
During the initial snow plowing that follows any snow event, Town employees will be clearing all driveway approaches throughout the Town if that particular street is plowed. The plowing of driveway approaches will be completed in conjunction with the plowing of Town streets. Unfortunately, as the amount of snow increases, so does the time required to clear driveway approaches.
The Public Works Department main priority is to ensure Town streets are cleared quickly and efficiently, providing a safe environment for travel.
There are many private and business driveway approaches in the Town of Ste. Anne, therefore clearing approaches may not be completed immediately after plowing the streets. Skid steers or loader will accompany snow plow graders, and will remove the ridges of snow from driveway approaches within approximately 2 hours after the street has initially been plowed.
Please Note: The ridge of snow left across driveways as a result of clearing sidewalks is not cleared by Town of Ste. Anne employees.
Rut Cutting:
On P2 routes, snowfall accumulations in the range of 6 to 13 cm (2.5 to 5 inches) are usually left to pack on the street with normal daily traffic and accumulations greater than this amount trigger a snow plowing program for P2 routes.
As a result of not always plowing P2 routes, some streets will become rutted and choppy through the course of the winter months. A rut cutting operation will be started if the streets become overly difficult to navigate or unsafe for travel.
If you find a street that is becoming difficult to navigate as a result of rutting, please call the Public Works Department at 204-422-5293 and provide the location.
A site inspection will be done, and if warranted, the street will be put on a list to be plowed on a priority basis.
Wind and Snow Drifts: Any snow event may be given an upgraded response level, depending on factors such as temperature, density of snow, wind speed and direction. Depending on direction of wind and amount of loose snow, equipment will be deployed to ensure Priority 1 and Priority 2 routes remain navigable.
With blowing and drifting snow, not all areas of the Town will require the same level of service. The decision to increase or adjust the response will be at the discretion of the Public Works Manager or his designate.
Follow Up Snow Plowing:
Following the initial snow plowing in response to any particular snow event, some areas of the Town will require remedial snow plowing and/or removal. This work will be completed in the following week or so to clear up trouble spots.
If you find a street and/or intersection that is becoming difficult to navigate or is unsafe for travel, please call the Public Works Manager at 204-422-5293 and provide the location along with a brief description. A site inspection will be done, and the street and/or intersection will be put on a list to be rectified on a priority basis.
Street Sanding:
A combination of sand/salt and sand/liquid is used at key locations throughout the Town when street and weather conditions warrant. Town trucks are deployed regularly to place these combinations on areas such as intersections, hills and busy streets to provide additional traction for driving safety during winter months.
Road salt is typically only used when the temperature is -10° Celsius and rising as well as in limited locations where for safety reasons it is better to have bare dry pavement, such as busy arterial streets and intersections.
Sand is generally used for traction at most other locations in the Town such as intersections and bends in street alignment.
Piling Snow on Town Streets:
It shall be an offence for any person to remove from any private property, public property, street, boulevard, or sidewalk any snow or ice and deposit same on any street, boulevard, or sidewalk in such a manner that could create a hazardous condition for either vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
Please deposit snow from private property onto front yards.
The above does not apply to the Province, the Town, or their agents or employees who are actively contracted for snow removal from streets, boulevards, or sidewalks.
Snow Dumping:
Notice to Contractors and Trucking Firms:
Please be advised The Town of Ste. Anne does not provide a site for snow dumping purposes at this time.
Please make arrangements for the disposal of snow from private property for the upcoming season and future winter seasons as required.
Contact Information:
Public Works Manager
14 Centrale Ave
Ste. Anne, Manitoba
R5H 1B8
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (204) 422-5293
Fax: (204) 422-5459
For further information with regards to snow plowing concerns or safety issues, please call the Public Works Department at 204-422-5293. During regular business hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm), administration staff will assist you with your enquiry. For after hour calls, please call 204-422-5293 and leave your name, phone number and a brief description of your concern. Staff will review your message the following business day, and return your call if required.