By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

With a snow free forecast, city crews continue to tackle roads still covered by snow

Nov 6, 2017 | 11:39 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Anyone driving around downtown Lethbridge this morning would’ve seen snowbanks masquerading as medians between lanes following the snow fall over the weekend.

When it comes to snow clearing for the City of Lethbridge, Transportation Manager Lee Perkins says crews always deal with Priority 1 routes first and then move into dealing with secondary routes.

But Perkins adds that following a priority system means whenever more snow starts to fall, they have to reset.

“So right now, crews are still working on Priority 1 routes and sanding in residential areas as well. We’re also working to clean up the downtown,” Perkins continued. “That’s why we windrow the snow to the middle of the road, and then we use blowers to remove it.”

Some second-priority routes were plowed with the break in snow fall at various points over the weekend, but some Priority 3 residential accesses and controlled intersections streets remain to be done.

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The Priority route system has been in place since 2009, and another intricacy crews and plows deal with is that they can’t clear snow into resident’s driveways or clear snow to the right.

“If there’s no where other than Whoop-Up Drive or roads like that where guys can clear snow to right, then when we do get to other areas of town or residential areas all of the snow has to be cleared to the middle,” Perkins added.

The system is reviewed every year, and despite some public complaints when the snow falls it remains popular with those in charge.

The forecast for the next few days is favorable for crews to be able to get to some of the areas still needing clearing.

No snow is forecast until Wednesday, with a 60 per cent chance of showers possible.

Additional information on the equipment available for snow clearing, and other questions can be found on the city’s website here.