This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy.
Starting October 5, Wetaskiwin residents will receive curbside recycling services from Circular Materials.
How Public Works keeps Wetaskiwin's roads, sidewalks and trails moving, what to expect during a snowfall, and what you can do to help our crews.
Winter maintenance at a glance
Here's the scale of what Public Works looks after each winter.
92 km
of roadway maintained
18
parking lots cleared (about 40,000 m²)
20,000 m³
of snow hauled away each winter
2,000 t
of sand, plus rock chips and salt for ice control
How we decide what gets cleared first
Crews work in priority order, and each service has its own map. The snow amounts (triggers) are maximums: crews may start sooner when a large snowfall is forecast. A lower priority usually starts once the higher one is done. If needed, crews go back to higher-priority locations first, then pick up where they left off.
| Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
Completed within 48 hours of end of snowfall
|
Plowing completed within 72 hours
|
Groom roadway to achieve a level snow pack, up to the removal trigger
|
Ice control (sand, salt or rock chips) is spread during snow, frost, freezing rain and other events that need extra traction, as identified by Public Works, Protective Services, or reports from the public. It usually follows these priorities, with added attention to hazardous locations.
| Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 |
|---|---|---|
Windrow completed within 48 hours of end of snowfall
|
Windrow completed within 72 hours of end of snowfall
|
Windrow completed within 96 hours of end of snowfall
|
Snow removal is done edge to edge (curb to curb) to bare pavement. Snow removals follow rotating schedules set by Administration. Windrows are removed once all priorities are complete, except where a windrow must be removed sooner for safe traffic and pedestrian movement.
| Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 |
|---|---|---|
Groom roadways to achieve a level snow pack
|
Groom roadways to achieve a level snow pack
|
Groom roadways to achieve a level snow pack
|
Laneway priorities on the map: green is Priority 1 (downtown and waste collection routes), brown is Priority 2 (outlying), purple is Priority 3 (interior).
| Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 |
|---|---|---|
Cleared within 48 hours of the end of snowfall
|
Shovel within 2 business days, plow/sand within 72 hours
|
Shovel within 2 business days, plow as needed
|
All City sidewalks and trails will be cleared within 48 hours whenever possible. Snow is not typically hauled away afterward where there is enough space to store it.
On the map, tractor routes are purple (Priority 1), teal (Priority 2) and green (Priority 3). Manual shoveling is yellow (Priority 1), pink (Priority 2) and orange-red (Priority 3).
Two ways we move snow: plowing vs. removal
People often use these two words for the same thing, but they are different jobs. One pushes snow aside. The other takes it away. Here's how each one works.
| Snow Plowing | Snow Removal | |
| What happens | Snow is pushed to the sides of the road | Snow is piled in the middle, loaded, and hauled away |
| Where the snow ends up | Beside the road | The snow storage site |
| Main equipment | Plow trucks | Graders, blower, loaders, dump trucks |
| Speed | Faster. Opens the road | Slower. Takes more crews and equipment |
| Our targets | Priority 1 within 48 hours of the end of snowfall, Priority 2 within 72 hours. Priority 3 is groomed to a level snow pack. |
Windrow completed within 48, 72 or 96 hours of the end of snowfall (Priority 1, 2 and 3) |
Why don't we haul away all the snow, every time?
Removal takes a lot of crew time, equipment, and hours. Crews need a minimum of 8 hours rest between shifts. So we plow first to open the roads, then remove snow in priority order.
Severe winter event. If a major storm threatens travel across the city, the City Manager may start a severe winter event response. All available resources are used to restore mobility, and a parking ban may be declared on all roads.
Snow routes and parking
Some streets are signed as permanent snow routes. They are generally the higher-priority roads (Priority 1 and 2) plus key transit, emergency response, and high-volume corridors. Vehicles on the street slow crews down and can be a safety risk for motorists, pedestrians, and operators.
When do the rules apply?
Snow route parking restrictions are active when snowfall reaches the amounts that trigger plowing or removal, or whenever winter maintenance crews are working. No formal announcement is needed for them to be enforceable.
The City may share reminders on its website, social media, or public notices during big snowfalls, but these are not required.
What this means for you
Your residential street
Local roads are the roads where homes typically front. They come last, so they are handled a little differently.
One cycle a winter
A complete round of local roadway snow removal is done once per winter. It starts only when all other road priorities are complete and in safe condition. A snowy winter may mean extra rounds.
15 cm minimum
Local roadway clearing starts once a snowpack of at least 15 cm has built up.
Curb to curb
Local roads are cleared from curb to curb, down to bare pavement.
All snow is hauled away
The snow is trucked off the road to a snow storage site.
How you can help our crews
Small habits make snow removal faster for everyone. Ideas adapted from what other Alberta and Canadian cities ask of residents.
Give equipment room and be patient. Removal often happens overnight, when fewer vehicles are on the road.
Move your vehicle and clear obstacles. Parked vehicles limit how far a grader can clear.
Shovel onto your own property, pile driveway snow on the right side so plows don't drag it back and you can see traffic when backing out.
Stay off windrows. They're hard to see around, so take care driving, and don't let children play on them.
Snow Removal FAQs
How do I know when snow removal is happening?
On snow routes, look for the permanent signs. Restrictions apply whenever snowfall reaches the trigger amounts or crews are working, and no formal announcement is needed. The City also shares updates on its website and social media, and Public Works may place wedgeboards in an area.
What time does snow removal start?
Crews aim to begin snow removal at 4 a.m.
Which streets are snow routes?
Snow routes are marked with permanent signs. They generally follow Priority 1 and 2 roads plus key transit, emergency response, and high-volume corridors.
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.
What is ice control, and does the City salt or sand its roadways?
Ice control means spreading sand, salt or rock chips so tires and boots get more grip. The City follows Transportation Association of Canada codes of practice. Sand is used mainly for traction because it is less corrosive on vehicles and gentler on freshwater, soil, vegetation and wildlife than salt.
Why crews can't work around the clock?
Operators must follow hours-of-service rules for commercial drivers. That means no more than 13 hours of commercial driving in a work shift, and a maximum of 15 hours on duty in a work shift. The City's Fit for Duty directive (HR-026) also requires staff to be able to work safely for their whole shift. Rest keeps the public and our crews safe.
What kind of snow clearing resources does the City have?
The City’s snow equipment fleet includes:
Where does all the snow go after removal?
The City has one snow storage dump site, east of the Wetaskiwin Regional Fire Training Facility.
Contact Us
Public Works
Operations Facility
5520 50 Street
Wetaskiwin, Alberta
Phone: 780.361.4436
Email: publicworks@wetaskiwin.ca
Hours
Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
