Winter Roads & Sidewalks Maintenance

The Town's mandate is to keep priority routes open and safe for the public. To learn more about snow clearing routes, view the below policy and priority map information.

Winter Roads, Sidewalks & Pathways Policy & Snow Removal Priorities Map

Read the Policy that guides how the Town's Public Works keeps transportation networks safe and clear in the winter.
View the Roadway Snow Removal Priorities Map (PDF)

Town of Strathmore Policies Roadway Snow Removal Priorities Map

Summary of Winter Maintenance and Helpful Tips

Roads & Winter Maintenance

The Town of Strathmore is responsible for maintaining all publicly owned roads, parking lots, pathways, and sidewalks directly adjacent to Town property within Town limits. Provincially maintained highways are excluded.

Snow & Ice Control

Winter road maintenance starts before the snow falls, with weather monitoring and early application of snow and ice control products.

Plowing begins once 5 cm of snow has accumulated on Priority 1 roads.
The Town aims to balance safety, accessibility, and budget in all snow and ice control operations.

Priority 1 Roads

Top priority is given to:

Arterial roads and expressways
Emergency service access routes
School zones (during school hours)
Roadways requested by RCMP or Fire Services for safety or emergency access

Goal: All Priority 1 roads are plowed and treated within 24 hours after the end of a storm.

Snow Removal

Roads are plowed as close to the pavement surface as possible to ensure safe travel for all users.

Sidewalks

Residents are responsible for removing ice and snow from walkways in front of their residence within 48 hours of the accumulation as per Bylaw 13-05.

Read the full Bylaw here.

48 hours is the maximum time you can wait after a snowfall, but you don’t have to wait this long! Here are some snow clearing tips and information:

Clearing snow from walkway early makes it easier to move because you’ll get to it before it’s trampled down.
You’ll also feel like a good neighbor as you won’t have to watch walkers and school children trudge through your snowy walkway.
It’s a good idea to shovel multiple times during heavy snowfall.
Shoveling a heavy snowfall accumulation all at once can be hard on your body and may increase the amount of time you spend out in the cold.
Ensure you always shovel snow onto your property and NOT onto the road.
Shoveling snow onto roadways increases the accumulation that vehicles need to drive through or park in, especially on non-priority snow removal routes.
Shoveling into the road also impedes the snow removal efforts of Town employees working to keep priority routes clear and safe for emergency vehicles.
Keep some paw-safe salt or non-clumping kitty litter on hand to help deal with icy walkways.
Clear any accumulated snow off your walkway before using salt for ice control.

Helpful Tips for Residents

Helpful Snow Tips for Residents:

Shovel or snow blow sidewalk and driveway snow onto your property, not the road.
Residents are to clear windrows when necessary.
Remove curb ramps so they are not damaged or damage equipment.
Keep storm drains and swales clear of snow, ice and debris to allow for optimum drainage.
Maintain a safe distance from snow plows, graders and sanding trucks – stay back 10m.

The Town of Strathmore's Public Works Department works to clear public pathways and sidewalks on a priority basis.

Sidewalks (in front of a residence) that aren't cleared within 48hrs after snowfall, can be reported to Municipal Enforcement via the Citizen Communication Form.

If you're unable to shovel your sidewalks, reach out to FCSS about their Snow Angel Program.