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December 17, 2015 - 11:44 AM
KAMLOOPS - Every winter it snows in Kamloops, and every winter there is confusion over who is responsible for clearing sidewalks, roads, walkways and paths around the city.
The city takes care of clearing public roads, but roads are cleared on a priority basis, meaning high priority roads — arterial roads, followed by collector and bus routes — get cleared first. When there is a large accumulation the city may leave windrows in the middle of downtown roads to allow for curbside parking.
Windrows left at the end of your driveway from crews clearing the roadway are your responsibility. It is against city bylaws to push snow from your property onto the public portion of the roadway.
Highways and the on-ramps and off-ramps to those highways are maintained by the province, though the city is still responsible for Highway 5A from the Trans-Canada Highway to the southern boundary of the city.
If you live in a strata the responsibility is that of your management team to get the roads cleared though. Often private contractors are hired to clear your roadway, but how often and when depends on your contract.
Business owners and residents are responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to their property, though plows will clear sidewalks next to multi-lane arterial roads. City maintained sidewalks will be cleared early and as often as necessary, the public works department says. When snow reaches 1” in depth on sidewalks next to city-owned properties you can expect those sidewalks to be cleared.
The city also clears snow from bus stops, but again on a priority basis starting with stops along arterial routes.
When it snows residents are asked to keep parked vehicles and things like basketball hoops off roadways so crews can properly clear the snow.
If you are unable to clear your own driveways and sidewalks the Snow Angel program may be able to connect you with a volunteer willing to take on the job.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015