By Paula Trotter
Advocate staff
To the relief of many residents, the City of Red Deer will start plowing residential roads as early as Saturday.
It will take approximately 25 days to plow and windrow the more than 225 km of residential roads at a cost of around $400,000.
The windrows that will be placed in front of homes with even number addresses. The city alternates which side to leave windrows each time residential plowing is done.
“We have had a lot of snow over the last month and crews have been working around the clock clearing our Priority 1, 2 and 3 roadways,” Greg Sikora, Public Works Department manager, said Tuesday.
“After assessing the condition of our residential streets, we know it’s time to get our crews out there to keep these roads passable and in good driving condition.”
Residential plowing will start as soon as Priority 3 roads are complete.
The recent warm weather has melted the snow, resulting in roads that are more difficult to navigate and increasing the possibility that vehicles will get stuck, he said.
Clearing residential streets will also put the city in a better position to handle additional snowfall.
Sikora said Red Deer typically gets more snow in the last half of winter than in the first half — and to prepare for the spring melt in March.
Residential roads are classified as the lowest priority on a scale running from Priority 1 to Priority 5.
The plowing will begin in Kentwood and Vanier Woods, and the sequence after that will be posted daily.
City crews will try not to block any driveways but some street parking will be reduced because of the snow windrows.
Residents are reminded not to park beside the windrows because parked vehicles obstruct the travel lanes, creating hazards for other motorists.
The city will post signs indicating when parking is restricted on residential roads.
Residents are advised not to park their vehicles on the street during these times or they will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
Drivers are also asked to slow down, be patient and use extreme caution when entering a snowplowing operation area.
The city has only plowed residential streets a handful of times in the past few years, including last winter.
A snow and ice control map showing the five priority levels and their corresponding streets is available on the city’s Public Works page at www.reddeer.ca.
To report any unsafe roadways, phone Public Works at 403-342-8238.