(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)
December 23, 2015 - 2:30 PM
KELOWNA - When the snow falls in Kelowna and West Kelowna, contracted plow trucks head out to tackle the mammoth job of clearing the way for drivers. But not all roads are created equal.
Roads in West Kelowna and Kelowna are assigned a level of priority, from one to three, based on a number of factors. The amount of traffic, emergency access requirements and alternative route availability, all play into determining whether a roadway is designated priority one, two or three.
Arterial and collector roads, including transit routes and those with steep grades, get plowed first, followed by roads with school zones, school bus routes, town centres and population centres. Everything else is considered a priority three.
Even if town centres and school zones have been cleared, however, does not mean residential and side streets are next. During sudden or heavy snowfalls, plows will continue to focus on higher priority roads, often leading to a delay in snow removal in other areas.
Both West Kelowna and Kelowna have detailed maps that identify the priority of all streets. Visit this page for the map of Kelowna, and this page for West Kelowna.
Residents can help with the snow clearing process by parking off the streets to give plows access to snow and ice and by clearing snow that the plows put at the entrance to your driveway.
Residents are required to clear snow from sidewalks and pedestrian accesses in front of their properties within 24 hours of snowfalls.
Waste collection bins should be placed in a cleared area near the curb whenever possible and snow removed from the lids. Do not place carts where they will obstruct snow plows, traffic or pedestrians.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015