Crews Hit the Road as Forecasted Snowfall Begins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2020 

The City of West Kelowna’s roads maintenance crews are on the road in full force this morning as forecast snow of 10 to 20 centimeters begins to fall. Motorists and residents are asked to help crews clear the way.

In preparation for the snow fall crews were placing salt brine on all Priority 1, 2 and steep-grade Priority 3 roadways on Sunday.

All available equipment, six large plower/sander trucks and one small plow, is deployed and will maintain winter roads in priority sequence:

• Arterial roads, such as Boucherie, Glenrosa, Shannon Lake and Westlake to ensure that the most traveled roads are passable for emergency crews and priority services, delivery of essential goods and frequent service transit.
• Collector roads and other transit routes and steep neighbourhood accesses such as Auburn, Elliott, Gellatly, Ross and Thacker.
• Local streets, cul-de-sacs, etc.

View the City’s roads priority map at westkelownacity.ca/roads for more information.

If 48 hours after snow has stopped, crews have not been to your street, call 778-797-2225 during office hours 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. Afterhours call AEL West Kelowna at 1-866-353-3136.

A few tips that residents can do to help clear the way:

• Park off street up to 48 hours after the snowfall ends and until snow is cleared.
  • On street parking makes plowing difficult and sometimes impossible. Incidents have occurred where plows could not pass parked cars to clear streets.
• Do not shovel snow from driveways and sidewalks back onto the street.
  • This also slows plow drivers’ work. Pile snow on your property and keep storm drains and hydrants as clear as possible.
• Shovel snow to the left (as you face your home) so plows drag less snow across accesses.
  • Passing plows direct snow to the right and do leave windrows.
• Remove snow and ice from sidewalks and walkways bordering your property.
  • The City removes snow and ice from designated sidewalks, primarily adjacent to civic buildings, parks and pedestrian accesses.

Forecast snow and ice will make driving and walking conditions challenging, even as crews conduct road and sidewalk maintenance. Motorists and pedestrians should move with caution. Motorists should use winter-rated tires, use headlights, reduce speeds and leave extra breaking space. Get more tips at shiftintowinter.ca. 

For roads maintenance on Highway 97, 97C and Westside Road call AIM at 1-866-222-4204. For WR Bennett Bridge, call Protrans at 1-888-769-2925. If you live in strata, check with your board or management company.

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