FAQs • Wetaskiwin, AB • CivicEngage

When does residential snow clearing begin?: All snow plowing and removal is done on an as needed basis. Residential snow removal is normally done once per winter season after all other priority roads are cleared and once the snowpack has reached a minimum of 15 cm.

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Snow Removal FAQ

1. What is the City of Wetaskiwin’s role in snow and ice maintenance on roadways?: The City maintains all roads in Wetaskiwin, including parts of Highway 13 and Highway 2A that fall within the city limits and Wetaskiwin Regional Airport. During the winter, City staff work to prepare and respond to snow events as directed by the Winter Street Maintenance Policy.

2. How much is in the City’s budget for snow removal?: The 2023 snow removal budget for Transportation is approximately $339,100.

Snow clearing is performed by members of the City’s Transportation and Parks teams from the Public Works Department.
The City’s snow equipment fleet includes two graders, four plow trucks (two with sanding capabilities), one snowblower, two loaders, and a skid steer.
The City does not contract out any snow clearing.

The City is responsible for maintaining 92 kilometers of roadway. Of that 92 kilometres, approximately 55 kilometres are cleared as part of the Priority 1–3 guidelines in the Winter Street Maintenance Policy.
There are 18 parking lots covering approximately 40,000 square metres which are cleared by City workers.
City trucks haul away approximately 20,000 cubic metres of snow per season.
Nearly 2,000 tonnes of sand are distributed through the winter, as well as 60 tonnes of rock chip for residential ice control and 200 tonnes of road salt.

Snow plowing is the grading of snow either to the side or the middle of the roadway, trail, or sidewalk. It is meant to remove accumulated snow from to allow for safer travel.
Snow removal is the grading of snow from a road surface, trail, or sidewalk for transportation to snow storage sites. It is the complete removal of snowpack on a roadway — from edge to edge or curb to curb — to achieve bare pavement.

6. So, snow plowing won’t removal all the snow from the road?: Correct. Plowing will remove accumulated snow down to the level of the snowpack.

7. What triggers snow plowing?: Priority 1 roads (Location A/red on map) will be plowed or sanded within 48 hours of a snowfall event; they will be plowed if snow accumulation is over 5 cm, sanded if under 5 cm. Priority 2 (Location B/blue on map) routes will be plowed within 72 hours, and all other plowing will be done as needed. See the Initial Snow Plow Map HERE.

8. What triggers snow removal?: Priority 1 roads (Area 1/green on map) will be windowed within 48 hours if the snow accumulation of snowpack is more than 5 cm. Priority 2 roads (Area 2/pink on map) will be windrowed within 72 hours of a 5–10 cm snowfall/pack. Priority 3 roads (Area 3/blue on map) will be windrowed within 96 hours of a 10+ cm snowfall/pack. See the Initial Snow Removal Map HERE.

9. When does residential snow clearing begin?: All snow plowing and removal is done on an as needed basis. Residential snow removal is normally done once per winter season after all other priority roads are cleared and once the snowpack has reached a minimum of 15 cm.

10. Will back alleys and laneways be cleared?: No. According to policy, alleys are to be cleared at the discretion of administration. However, if you believe an alley or back lane has become a public safety concern, please submit a ticket via our Citizen Reporting Tool.

11. Does the City salt or sand its roadways?: Wetaskiwin uses sand on its roadways to help provide traction to both vehicles and pedestrians. Sand is preferrable to salt as it is less corrosive on vehicles and more environmentally friendly to freshwater ecosystems, soil, vegetation, and wildlife.

12. Does the City provide sand to its residents?: Yes, sand and gravel are currently available for free at the Wetaskiwin Recycling Centre. Just bring your own bucket and fill up.

13. How do I know when snow removal is happening?: The City will advertize at least 24 hours prior to snow removal. Crews from Public Works will place wedgeboards throughout the targeted area. The City’s website and social media channels will share maps of snow removal routes. Email and text notifications will be sent out via Notify Me.

14. What time does snow removal start?: Snow removal begins at 7 a.m. unless otherwise specified.

15. Where does all the snow go after removal?: The City has two snow storage dump sites: one near Walmart in the southwest part of the city and one east of the Wetaskiwin Regional Fire Training Facility. View the Snow Storage Dump Sites Map HERE.

16. Will I get a ticket if my vehicle is parked on a snow removal route?: Yes. Parking enforcement will take place along the advertised snow removal routes in residential areas. There will be a 24-hour parking ban for the day listed on the wedgeboard. Residents with a vehicle parked on a snow removal route could face a fine of up to $200, as outlined in the City’s Traffic Bylaw.

17. What happens if I do not pay my fine?: If your municipal violation ticket is not paid after 30 days a provincial ticket will be issued. Vehicle owners will have to pay the provincial ticket prior to renewing their annual vehicle registration.

18. Is there anything else I should do ahead of snow removal?: Aside from moving your vehicles from the street, it would be appreciated if you removed any driveway/curb ramps that may be in front of your property. Also, keep in mind, you should not be shoveling any snow from your property onto the roadway.

19. Why does snow removal seems to be taking such a long time?: Service levels may be affected by many things, including but not limited to: available staff, council-approved budget, equipment failures, and extreme weather conditions. Reminder: residential snow removal is normally done once per winter season after all other priority roads are cleared and once the snowpack has reached a minimum of 15 cm.

20. Who do I call to talk about the City’s snow maintenance?: If you have questions about snow maintenance, please call the Operations Facility at 780.361.4436 or email publicworks@wetaskiwin.ca. If you have a non-emergency snow or ice removal concern, please submit a request using our Citizen Reporting Tool. If residents want to share their thoughts on the levels of service provided by the City, please reach out directly to City Council.