Information Bulletin: City continues snow mitigation, adds more trucks to fleet

City of Vancouver

Information Bulletin

December 5, 2016

 

City continues snow mitigation, adds more trucks to fleet

 

City of Vancouver crews continue to respond to snowfall. The City takes snow removal seriously and has a comprehensive snow response plan in place. Temperatures are expected to drop tonight to below freezing. The City is continuing to add salt to roads and sidewalks, but travelers are asked to be cautious and take their time.

 

At the beginning of the day, the City had:

·         Fourteen salters salting/plowing main routes.

·         Four salters salting/plowing priority hills.

·         Bombardiers clearing seawall paths and sidewalks. 

·         Four small units salting/brining priority bike routes.

·         Crews manually removing snow at bus shelters, gutters that lead to catch basins, and sidewalk let downs at intersections. 

 

In the afternoon, some hills throughout the city were closed to traffic, and additional resources were added, including:

·         15 additional salters, pulled from our street operations and sewer operation fleets.

 

The City plows priority routes. These include major roads, bus routes, bridges, emergency access routes, and the most used bike routes and walkways.

 

Crews worked late Saturday and on Sunday to salt and brine Vancouver's major routes in anticipation of predicted snow and freezing temperatures.

 

Vancouver property owners and occupants (tenants) are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks that surround their property by 10 a.m. the morning following a snowfall. This responsibility is in effect seven days a week. Property owners and occupants who fail to remove snow and ice may be subject to fines. Snow and ice on the sidewalk can be a barrier for many people, particularly seniors and people with mobility challenges. Residents are encouraged to lend a hand to those who are unable to shovel their own sidewalks by adopting their sidewalk.

 

Connect with us on the go, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the VanConnect App. Use the app to report snow causing flooding, issues with transit shelter access, uncleared sidewalks, and any other street maintenance issues. Download the app at the AppStore, Google Play, or for Blackberry at vancouver.ca/vanconnect.

 

More information about how to prepare for winter weather is also available at vancouver.ca/snow.

 

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Media contact:

Corporate Communications

604.871.6336
media@vancouver.ca