Edmonton Revamps Snow Plan
Mayor Andrew Knack praises new policy aiming to clear snow faster on key roads and pathways
The City of Edmonton is updating its snow and ice clearing policy to improve accessibility and efficiency. The policy was discussed at the Community and Public Services Committee meeting on Monday, with proposed changes including moving residential blading to a monthly basis, if needed.
The updated policy aims to take accessibility into account when clearing snow and ice from city streets and pathways. The city has been working to optimize equipment deployment for snow and ice control, ensuring that the necessary equipment is available and deployed where needed when snow falls.
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack praised the overall plan improvements, citing benefits for accessibility, movement, and safety throughout the city. The updated policy aims to allow for speedier snow clearing on Priority 1 and 2 roads and active pathways.
One option that has been discussed but is not currently planned is the re-introduction of calcium chloride as a de-icing agent. The chemical solution was used on arterial and collector roads during a pilot project in 2017 and 2018, but its use was stopped in 2019 due to concerns about damage to vehicles and infrastructure.
## Why it matters The updated policy is significant as it aims to enhance safety and movement throughout the city. With the proposed changes, the city hopes to improve accessibility and efficiency in its snow and ice clearing operations. The optimization of equipment deployment and the potential move to monthly residential blading are expected to have a positive impact on the city's residents and visitors.
The use of calcium chloride, although effective, has been a topic of concern due to its potential damage to vehicles and infrastructure. The province has been using calcium chloride on Anthony Henday Drive for years, but the city has decided not to re-introduce it at this time.
The updated policy is a step towards improving the city's snow and ice clearing operations, and it will be interesting to see how the proposed changes are implemented and their impact on the city's residents and visitors.
