ESTEVAN - Estevan city council received an update on snow removal in the community during its most recent meeting on Jan. 23.
Norm Mack, the manager of roads and drainage for the city’s public works division, noted the City of Estevan removes snow on 165 kilometres of streets and roadways, and plows back lanes, city-owned lots, designated sidewalks and pathways. Over the years, Mack said roads and drainage has tweaked and improved snow removal operations to increase speed and efficiency.
Typically, it takes the city five to six days, depending on breakdowns and weather conditions, to clear snow after a larger snow event.
After the initial cleanup, some touch-ups and blading of ruts will be required by in-house staff.
“The roads and drainage main objective during a snowstorm is to ensure that all Priority 1 streets are passable for emergency vehicles. Loaders and graders will patrol the city to open blocked streets and drifts,” Mack said.
Mack noted the snow removal arrangement with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure has changed, adding more responsibility to the city’s snow removal routes. The city will be responsible for plowing and maintaining Highway 47 north from Wellock Road to the north city limits, and Highway 39x from 16th Avenue to Sister Roddy Road.
To the east, the city used to stop at Kensington Avenue, but it will eventually plow to Sawyer Road at the east city limits. At some point, the city will be responsible for the overpass.
“Highways has said in 2023, they will maintain that until we can get some equipment, and we’re in the process of getting a plow.”
And to the south, the city will have to maintain to the junction with Highway 18, whereas before their jurisdiction ended on Perkins Street.
“Under the contract, we agreed upon the price of contracting that back to the highways department, so their portion is, for this year, is Highway 18 to Collins Road, and all the way to the river,” said Mack.
Mack also recommended a couple of changes to the city’s Priority 1 routes. All of Wellock Road is now Priority 1. Previously it was a Priority 1 road from Souris Avenue North to Mayfair Drive due to the presence of the Estevan Regionl Nursing Home, and Priority 2 from Mayfair to Sister Roddy Road.
“Wellock Road is a … route to the hospital, and secondly, we’re usually there first thing, battling the snow, because that’s the first road that blows in, in the northwest corner of the city,” said Mack.
Also added to the Priority 1 list is Souris Avenue North from King Street to Seventh Street, due to the amount of traffic accessing the road for the Estevan Leisure Centre and Affinity Place.
“We think that’s the crown jewel of the city [Affinity Place], so we’d like to do Priority 1 from King Street to Seventh Street,” said Mack.
Also, in the event of a major snow storm, they want to have gravel roads for the industrial areas plowed to the ditches early so that people can access their businesses.
The city has nine snow dump sites throughout the community. Sites are located in every quadrant of the city to cut down on travel time for the trucks.
“Double the distance of a truck to dump its load of snow basically doubles the cost and time of snow removal,” said Mack.
They might spend a day or a day and a half at a dump site during and after a storm.
Two dump sites push over the valley edge, and the city is fortunate to have valleys to take away snow melt.
Councillor Shelly Veroba noted that Regina and Saskatoon could only wish to have the snow removal of Estevan. But she wanted to know what time crews start in the morning. Mack said it depends on the extent of the storm.
“For the most part, our snow removal operations run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” said Mack. “And we try to stay in that timeframe.”
During a blizzard, if there are roads blocked, they might start as early as 3 a.m.
She was also pleased the city had sand available for people to pick up at sites in the community.
Mack said the city has a good system that is well-rehearsed and well-oiled, and crews won’t stop unless absolutely necessary. Contractors have been great to work with when needed.
A dozen employees work on snow removal for the city, he said, and after a big storm, they need 30-40 people.
They also co-ordinate with leisure services on removing snow from pathways and sidewalks. The city has about 22 kilometres of pathways, including all of the connectors. The pathways are cleared when time allows.
