2006 News and Information
City of Richmond Addresses Recent Snowfall
27 November 2006The recent heavy snow fall over the past couple of days requires additional City ice and snow removal provisions and extra caution to residents driving and walking. Streets and roads must be as safe as possible to ensure unimpeded movement of emergency vehicles (ambulance, fire trucks and police) and mobility for public transit and private vehicles to and from places of work and other essential points. The City endeavours to accomplish this task in the most cost effective manner possible, while still maintaining a high level of service to the public.
Snow Removal
City policy states sanding/salting and plowing priorities are based on traffic volumes. The first priority is that all major (or "arterial") section line roads and bus routes will be de-iced and plowed if necessary. The second priority is industrial roadways during business days and main collector roads that run through major subdivisions.
Salt is used as the principal de-icer because it is the most readily available and most cost effective. It is plentiful in the earth and sea. The primary type used is rock salt that is mined from the earth. When salt is applied to ice and snow, it creates a brine solution that has a lower freezing temperature than the temperature of the surrounding ice.
Should the need arise, a full complement of salting and plowing crews can be mustered and dispatched on short notice.
“Since the morning of Friday, November 24 we have had our heavy-snowfall strategy in place. All weekend, around the clock, we’ve been monitoring the conditions. Staff and equipment have been on the streets de-icing to help improve driving conditions on the main roads and bus routes,” says Dave Semple, Director of Parks.
Currently all equipment is out de-icing and plowing, where necessary. We are also focusing on recreational facility parking lots, RCMP, fire stations and City Hall.
City Facilities
All City facilities remain open, with the exception of Watermania, due to a power outage. Please call facilities ahead of time to ensure there are no early closures or other unforeseen issues, such as a power-outage, relating to the storm.
Tree Damage
The recent heavy snow has caused some considerable damage to trees. The weight of the wet snow has brought down many branches and some very large trees. The City has identified 25 sites to clean up so far, with the worst being a large elm tree that went down by the Brighouse Library Cultural Centre. A large branch damaged a vehicle at No.1 Fire Hall and another large tree is down in Burkeville. Pine trees are losing branches and hedges are flattened. Trails are closed at the Nature Park although the Nature House is open. The City has cleared branches off roadways and sidewalks but the cleanup will take some time since our priority will be snow clearance and access to our facilities.
To report a tree related hazard obstructing roadways, sidewalks or damage to public property, please call the 24 hour emergency Dispatcher at 604-270-8721.
What You Can Do to Help
If you don't need to go out, stay off the roads until conditions are safer. If you do venture out, drive carefully and exercise good driving habits; slow down, and leave a little extra room between you and the vehicle in front. Snow and ice control are not substitutes for caution and defensive driving practices when operating a vehicle under winter conditions.
Clear your sidewalks. Property owners are reminded they are responsible for clearing their sidewalks of snow and ice by 10 a.m. the morning after a snow fall, except on Sundays. City of Richmond Traffic Bylaw No. 5870 applies to all property owners or occupants of industrial, commercial or multi-family residential buildings.
For more information, please call Dave Semple at 604-233-3350.
