City of Regina and residents digging out after weekend snowstorm

After 15 to 20 centimetres of snow fell in Regina overnight in the second snowstorm in a week, the cleanup has begun.

City of Regina is using around 50 pieces of equipment to make the roads and sidewalks safer, including include graders, ice control trucks, sidewalk-clearing machines, front-end loaders and smaller skids as well as 10 or 12 sanders.

Around 15 to 20 centimetres of snow fell in Regina overnight, making travel difficult.(Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

The hum of snow blowers was heard in northeast Regina from people clearing out their driveways.

“I don’t like the snow,” said Sheila Pretty, shovel in hand. “I hate the snow.”

She said she’s shovelled far to many times in the past week to clear her sidewalks.

Down the street, Florence Shaver said the blast of winter storms has been “hectic” but the latest round of snow has been much easier to move.

“It’s good exercise really,” she said, pointing to her muscles.

It’s been a tough week to keep up with all the snow falling, said Monique Baird, even with her snow blower.

“I don’t mind the snow,” she said. “The snow is nice, but the roads have been absolutely atrocious.”

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Just after 2 pm on Sunday there was no notice of school closures at Regina Public Schools or Regina Catholic School District.

The City of Regina declared snow routes in effect on Saturday afternoon, effective from 6 a.m. on Sunday, until 6 a.m. on Monday.

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The snow route sign is a blue background with a white snowflake. When a snow route is called, cars cannot park on the affected roads. (980 CJME file photo)

The city said in a news release that there is no on-street parking along the routes identified by blue signs with a white snowflake to allow crews to plow the roads from curb to curb, improving traffic flow. It also help makes sure roads are passable for emergency response vehicles.

Vehicles which remain parked on the snow route during the temporary parking ban will be ticketed and could also be towed to an adjacent block during the plow, the city added.

Snow routes are in effect in Regina until 6 a.m. on Monday and vehicles which remain parked will be ticketed and could also be towed to an adjacent block. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

When will my road get plowed?

Major arterial roads and designated hospital routes are plowed within 24 hours following a snow event. These include Albert St, Broad St, Victoria Ave, Lewvan Dr, Ring Rd, Arcola Ave, McCarthy Blvd, and Rochdale Blvd.

Minor arterial roads, major collector roads, transit routes, bike lanes and downtown roads are plowed within 36 hours. These include 13th Ave, Elphinstone St, Broadway Ave, Regina Ave, Lorne St, Truesdale Dr, Chulka Blvd, McIntosh St, Hill Ave, Windsor Pk Rd, and Grant Rd.

Remaining collector roads, industrial/commercial, residential roads with traffic greater than 1.500 vehicles per day, and roads with school unloading zones are plowed within 48 hours. These include Castle Rd, Cumberland Rd, Edgar St, Fairview Rd, Greenwood Cres, Gillmore Dr, Helmsing Rd, Heseltine Rd, Mayfield Rd, McKinley Ave, Philip Rd, Shannon Rd, Simes Blvd, and Tutor Way.

All gravel roads will be plowed within 60 hours following a snow event.

All remaining residential roads will be plowed only after 15 cm of snow or more, when the city has crews free to do so.

Residents can help crews plow streets faster by parking in their driveway or garage, the city says on its website.

After a major snow event, crews also work to plow alleys that receive garbage and recycling pick up and try to provide residents with access toalley parking. Because alleys are narrow, they are plowed by trucks with a blade on the front, which leaves a snow ridge that residents will need to clear.

All properties on streets marked in yellow on this map must clear ice and snow from the sidewalk adjacent to their property within 24 hours of a snow or ice event. (City of Regina/submitted)

Keep the sidewalks safe

Snow and ice on residential sidewalks in Regina is the responsibility of the property owner or resident.

All properties on streets shown in yellow on the map above must clear ice and snow from the sidewalk adjacent to their property within 24 hours of a snow or ice event.

Businesses, apartments and vacant lots outside of downtown must clear ice and snow from sidewalks within 48 hours. Snow should not be shovelled onto streets, sidewalks or boulevards but stored on the private yard of the homeowner or resident.

The city provides free sand/salt mix at 19 sandboxes for residents to help make icy sidewalks safe. People are asked to bring a scoop and small container to collect it. Sandboxes are refilled as needed after crews deal with any issues on priority roads, the city says on its website.

A list of sandbox locations is available here.

— with files from Gillian Massie, 980 CJME

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