Snow Removal

Sidewalks and Walkways – Snow and Ice Removal

The clearing of sidewalks is the shared responsibility of many community partners. The Town clears some public walkways, but property owners and residents are required to ensure sidewalks adjacent to their properties are free from snow and ice. Walkways should be cleared down to bare pavement to ensure they don’t pose a hazard to pedestrians.

Please observe these regulations when clearing ice and snow from walkways:

• Keep your sidewalk clear to prevent a buildup of snow and ice
• Clear your sidewalk of ice and snow within 48 hours of snowfall
• Place the snow at the curb edge or on your property, not on the road
• Place salt & sand on icy portions of the sidewalk (available free in the Aquatic center parking lot)

Section 11.1 of the Town of Innisfail’s Traffic Bylaw states:

“All Persons owning or occupying a parceI of Iand in the Town, shall remove and clear away all snow, ice, dirt and other Obstructions from the sidewalk situated on land adjoining such parcel of land within forty-eight ( 48) hours of the time that such snow, ice, dirt or other Obstruction was deposited thereon.”

To avoid possible fines and fees for snow and ice removal, please ensure sidewalks adjacent to your property are free of snow and ice.

When will plowing take place?

Town Public Works staff will begin clearing snow after a snowfall of five centimetres, or when snow begins to stifle the flow of traffic in and around the community.

When will my street be cleared?

The simple answer: It depends on where you live.

Streets and roads in town are cleared in accordance with a Council-approved Snow and Ice Control Policy, which prioritizes plowing routes by their ranked importance.

Priority 1 routes include arterial roads, connections to emergency services facilities, and areas pre-determined as high priority. These are cleared within 48 hours of a storm’s end. The same applies to Priority 2 routes, which include collector roads, school zones and — during times of heavy melting — areas with potential drainage issues.

Residential roads, Town-owned parking lots and lanes make up Priorities 3 and 4 and are cleared only when they’re deemed impassable, or when extenuating circumstances exist.

Am I required to move my vehicle for snow clearing?

Yes. Signs will be placed to indicate when your street will be cleared. Vehicles parked on the street while signs are in place may be ticketed or towed.

Parking during snow removal days is always a struggle so please make alternate plans for parking your vehicle in advance. “No Parking” signs will be put out to indicate that a street is designated to be cleared. We ask that residents use alternate parking until after the street has been cleared and the “No Parking – Snow Removal” signs have been removed.

Why do I have to wait longer than others to get my street cleared?

The priorities designated in the map (above) were laid out taking a number of factors into consideration — traffic volume, financial resources, personnel availability, emergency-services access, and road classification among others.

Routes ranked highest in priority must be cleared first to ensure the safe and efficient flow of higher traffic volumes. Clearing them helps ensure that the town is able to function as normally as possible during times of heavy snowfall.

How do I know when my street will be cleared?

The Town posts regular updates through our website and social media throughout the winter season. These posts will generally indicate which areas are designated for clearing by Town snow-removal crews. These notifications are for general information purposes only and may not always be adhered to. Issues unrelated to snow removal may require crews to alter plans based on their availability; however, crews do their best to follow the removal patterns posted.

What are my responsibilities when it comes to clearing snow?

There are a few things we ask of you to ensure that snow can be removed in the safest, most efficient manner possible:

• If you live on a route classed as either Priority 1 or 2, remove your vehicle from the street during — or in advance of — heavy snowfall. Doing so will allow snow removal equipment to move through as quickly as possible.
• Advance notice signs may be placed before snow removal takes place. Watch out for them and prepare for plowing to take place soon thereafter.
• Always grant right-of-way to snow removal equipment. Stay back and give operators as much room as possible.
• Be patient! Staff work hard to ensure roads are clear and safe for travel at all times and do their best with the resources and personnel available. Together, we can work to make the snow removal process is efficient and effective!

What else should I know?

Plowing takes place in two major phases — the first is meant to create lanes for vehicular travel; the second removes windrows produced as a result. We’ll aim to have both phases carried out as quickly as possible once removal operations begin.

It’s also worth noting that Town residents are required to remove snow situated on sidewalks adjacent to their properties. The Town’s Traffic Bylaw states that residents must “remove and clear away all snow, ice, dirt and other obstructions from the sidewalk” within 48 hours of a storm’s end. Failure to do so could result in fines to the offending property owners.