Snow falling in downtown Vernon Wednesday, Jan. 18 (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

72 Hours to Complete

Snow removal operations underway in Vernon

Jan 18, 2024 | 11:20 AM

Crews are out in Vernon clearing the snow that fell over the past 48 hours.

Environment Canada estimated between 10 and 15 centimetres fell around the Vernon area Tuesday and Wednesday.

Snow plowing operations were launched when the snow began, with a focus on arterial roads and bus routes.

“Crews [Wednesday] spent a lot of time keeping main and arterial routes open as a priority response until the snow stopped,” Ian Adkins, Vernon’s Manager of Roads, Drainage and Airport, told Vernon Matters.

“We had crews going late last night and then this morning once the snow stopped. We started at about 4 a.m., had crews out there in all areas of the city and started working on those priority response.”

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The priority roads included the main arterial and collector roads, the bus routes, and the roads around schools and the hospital.

After clearing those roads, crews moved into residential areas and began work on multi-use pathways and city-owned sidewalks. Once those areas are clear of snow, plowing and sanding will be done in alleys and cul-de-sacs.

It’s estimated that it could take up to 72 hours after a snow event to have all areas of Vernon cleared.

If more snow falls before crews have completed the work, then they would return to the priority roads first and then work back down through residential roads and then cul-de-sacs.

“Residents that are in those areas, if we can ask some favours, we would love it if they could help us out, get some cars off the road, things like that, to allow some room for crews to safely operate and widen those roads out for future events,” Adkins said, adding some temporary No Parking restrictions may be put in place for select neighbourhoods during the snow clearing work.

“There is a couple areas that we’ll have to put a few out, if not today, then in the next couple days. So if any residents see any signs in the areas, we really appreciate the help with getting cars up and out of the way and making sure we’ve got the room to clean up. The signs may stay up for a temporary time, not sure the time frame and what that would look like. It all depends on the up and coming snow that’s coming towards us.”

In addition to clearing snow off the road, sand is being laid to improve traction.

“The sanders we’re using all have pre-wet kits on them so we can actually add a bit of anti-icing, a pre-wet material, right to the sand as it’s being emptied out through the sander as it’s being applied,” Adkins said.

“As crews are working through areas, anything that they see that’s slippery, they can apply more sand on the fly, or anything that’s reported to us [can be sanded]. Any areas that anyone has any concerns with, they can give us a call at the city’s Operations Yard at 250-549-6757.”

Clearing sidewalks outside of residences and businesses is the responsibility of property owners. The public is reminded not to pile snow from sidewalks or driveways in the road, around fire hydrants, or at bus stops.

“Make sure you’re putting that snow on private property onto your own property and not throwing it onto the street. That makes a big help for our crews and it also makes life a little easier for them so we’re not pushing that snow right back towards them,” Adkins explained.

“If they see any catch basins that are potentially covered, if they have the ability to open that up, it makes a big difference for us as well, and if they do see any that are covered, just give the Operations Yard a call as well and we can make sure that happens.”

Adkins also advised motorists to stay at least 50 feet behind sand trucks, and to not pass plows, especially on the right hand side as the snow is pushed off the road in that direction.

For more information on Vernon’s snow and ice program, visit the City of Vernon website at www.vernon.ca/cleartheway.