Roads and Drainage Update - Clear the Drains

30 December 2008

Roads crews have been working around the clock during storms over Christmas, and are continuing to monitor and address black ice areas. As of today, December 30, 2008, crews are also busy attempting to clear catch basins to allow as much of the melting snow to dissipate as possible, and are responding to an increasing number of potholes caused by the severe weather conditions. The patience, understanding and assistance of residents is very much appreciated while Richmond digs out from this unusual storm cycle.

Milder temperatures and the modest amounts of rain will assist in clearing the snow still on the side roads, which are not plowed. Crews clear 310 kms of roads in the city, focusing on the primary arteries, main roads, transit routes and emergency routes. After the snowfall has ended, crews will clear the first 50 feet of a side street’s entrance to a main intersection, to facilitate safe stopping.

Please note that should residents have concerns about localized flooding risk to their properties that sand, sand bags and shovels are available free of charge at the City's Works Yard, located at 5599 Lynas Lane.

Sewerage and Drainage
Thirty-eight drainage pump stations at different locations around Lulu Island pump large volumes of surface runoff to prevent flooding. However, to get the run-off water to our pump stations, catch basins must be free of any impediments such as snow, ice and leaves. Residents can help prevent localized flooding by clearing catchbasins on their streets.

If you are uncertain of the location of the catchbasins on your street you can obtain the information by following the instructions below.

We appreciate your continued cooperation and patience during this time.

Go to our website at http://www.richmond.ca/home.htm
Click on the “Maps” icon on the right.
Click on the “Geographic Information Systems (GIS)” link.
Scroll down the screen and click on the “Accept” at the bottom of the screen.
Click on the “Search” menu on the right and select “address”
Enter your address and click on the “Go” button.
Click on the “layers” menu on the top of the screen then select “Engineering Services”, “Drainage” on the menu on the right. Next, hit the “Refresh Map” icon on the bottom and the drainage system should be visible with the catch basins shown as the small, burgundy squares.
If you want to see where the catch basins are relative to a land mark click on the “Aerial Photos” icon on the menu at the top, next select “Aerial Photo May 15, 2007” and hit the refresh button at the bottom of the page. You can zoom in and out by using the “Zoom In” or “Zoom Out” feature on the menu bar at the top of the screen.