It’s been a couple years since the white stuff has fallen from the sky and blanketed Burnaby.
But with a couple of dumps of snow in the last week and frigid temperatures on the way for the foreseeable future, city hall is literally working overtime to keep the streets clear.
Since last Monday, when the first major snowfall since 2014 hit the Lower Mainland, city crews have been running 24/7 to clear the streets. And when the snow melts and freezing temperatures set in, as expected this week, crews will be out salting and brining the roads.
“What we’re really trying to do is clear as much as we can before the freeze sets in,” the city’s director of engineering Leon Gous told the NOW on Monday, noting crews will start with the highest priority roads and work their way down from there.
The city is expecting to run shifts around the clock at least until the weekend. And full crews will be on during Christmas.
While Gous acknowledged the city hasn’t had to really deal with the snow for a couple years, he said the city has been – and continues to be – prepared.
The city has a fleet of 16 trucks, typically used in the summer, outfitted with snowplows. The annual budget for snow removal is $450,000, but Gous pointed out the city can access operating reserves if more money is needed. He expects the city will go over budget this year.
“I think we’re as prepared as one can be,” he said. “Just given the amount we get and how frequent we get it, there’s not a lot of justification to increase those budgets too much.”
Gous also pointed out the city has 700 kilometres of lanes to take care of.
The city is reminding residents to remove snow from catch basins and storm drains. Keeping catch basins and storm drains on your street clear from snow helps prevent flooding when snow melts.
With a couple of major snowfalls already before winter begins, the city’s website has some information for residents when the white stuff comes back again.
Snow plowing routes are established based on traffic volume, speed, road classification, road terrain, and accessibility by transit and emergency services. A map of priority snow removal routes can be found at www.burnaby.ca.
The city plows, in order of priority:
- Main arterial streets such as Lougheed, Kingsway and Canada Way
- Emergency response routes
- Bus routes and collector streets
- Streets bordering senior and long-term care facilities
- Local roads with slopes that have only one outlet and limited access
- Local roads bordering elementary schools
Snow accumulation on all other streets will be cleared only when the other priorities are met and resources are available.
Residents and businesses are mainly responsible for clearing their own sidewalks, and the city will follow up on complaints.
“It is important for safety that they at least get out and clear their frontage,” Gous said.
City crews do clear bus stops and wheelchair ramps along arterial streets and then collector streets.
Mostly, Gous said the city just asks people to be patient and be prepared for the winter conditions.
