Local snow removal teams are ready for the snowfall, if it comes this winter. (City of Nanaimo)

By Alex Rawnsley

old man winter

‘Make sure the city keeps operating:’ Nanaimo snow removal crews ready & awaiting flurries

Dec 11, 2023 | 5:34 AM

NANAIMO — Despite forecasters calling for a generally warmer winter than usual, local road crews are still primed and ready to roll should the flurries fly.

Between 60 to 70 City of Nanaimo workers in the public works department are trained and awaiting snowfall to clear area roads and pathways, with 20+ pieces of equipment modified for snow removal.

David Thompson, manager of roads and traffic services, told NanaimoNewsNOW their priorities remain largely unchanged through the years: clear major roads first, then move into residential areas.

“We do review things on a periodic basis, with a lot of the development that’s come through we’re starting to see roads that didn’t necessarily connect in the past and now they’re connecting so that creates opportunity to make continuous routes through some of those lower priority areas.”

Around $620,000 was budgeted for snow removal by the City for 2023 with events earlier this year already seeing around $760,000 spent, according to Thompson.

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The public works department does have a reserve of roughly $1.2 million to dip into, should the need arise, with City finance staff making efforts to replenish the reserve annually if money is removed.

Thompson said he’s “not concerned” about budgeting for snow removal, but is thankful no flurries have fallen yet this winter.

“The City will spend the money that it takes to make sure the city keeps operating in a safe fashion when we have these winter storms.”

A wide variety of snow removal equipment is part of the City’s arsenal. (City of Nanaimo)

While the City handles a majority of snow removal work itself, Thompson said they contract out roughly 10 per cent of work, especially in harder to reach areas such as Duke Point.

The City’s public works team also coordinates with the parks department in snow removal, with each having their own priorities.

An annual concern expressed by residents is the clearing of sidewalks, parking lots or bike lanes seemingly before regularly used residential streets.

“For the public works side, our priority one routes are roads like Bowen, Hammond Bay and Departure Bay. For our parks operations, their priority one routes are things like the E&N Trail. We’re each working our own set of priorities with our own dedicated equipment that is best suited to those situations.”

Second priority routes include residential areas while cul-de-sacs and minor residential streets are typically the last to see snow removal.

In Parksville, City crews manage around 100 kilometres of paved roadways with a similar three stage priority system.

Just under $171,000 was budgeted by the City for removal efforts in 2023 with about $36,500 remaining for this year.

A budget for 2024 is yet to be finalized with costs over the last three winters ranging from $101,000 in 2020 to $205,686 last year.

The City of Parksville said in a release they continuously monitor the weather to ensure they know about any approaching systems.

“Should snow, ice or frost be in the forecast, staff are scheduled to apply anti-ice (salt brine) to the roads prior to the event or be ready to have truck plows with salters for snow removal. Staff will then be dispatched accordingly to first priority roads.”

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