The city is hoping for a smooth transition into winter operations will help lead to a manageable winter season for residents across Grande Prairie.
Transportation Director Wade Nellis says despite the first skiff of the season already falling, they have started the transition into winter operations with a full operations are scheduled to begin on November 5th.
“We’ve been spending the last month getting our equipment prepared, reviewing our procedures, and when we move into next month that’s when we will split shifts up into a 24 hour rotation. Nellis says an overall goal in the year to come is to improve the reliability and predictability of snow removal service.
“So, moving into our days of the week, or week a and week b programs, it has allowed us to provide a level of predictability, so when their cars need to be moved, they know, typically, after a large snowfall, when we are going to be arriving in their neighbourhoods,”
“It’s been a very positive thing for our operations, and hopefully, the city and residents are starting to see those improvements,”
Nellis says the safety of equipment operators and drivers are both a top priority, and one reason they not only have several sets of crews working over a 24 hour period, but how they prioritize overall snow removal.
“During an active snowfall, we are focusing on the arterial network, making sure first responders are able to get to every corner of the city,” he says.
“At the conclusion of that, that’s when we start rolling into priority two and three roads, hitting those bus routes and collector routes, and then eventually into our residential program.”
You can find more information, including snow removal schedules, on the City of Grande Prairie website.
