City deals with first snowstorm of the season

By Lethbridge Herald on November 2, 2022.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Snowblowers and plows were a common sight Tuesday as workers cleaned up sidewalks so customers and staff could access buildings as a significant snowstorm blew into southern Alberta.

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

A heavy snowfall warning for Lethbridge turned into a reality early Wednesday and the City of Lethbridge acted quickly by declaring Phase 1 snow routes active.

The snowfall, which grew heavier as dawn neared, caused havoc on city roads with traffic backups on Whoop-Up Drive westbound and Scenic Drive as commuters hit the roads.

While no roads were closed, there were traffic delays. Lethbridge Police Service, on its Twitter feed Wednesday morning, advised motorists to drive to the conditions.

With the implementation of the Phase 1 routes at noon Wednesday, vehicles left in parking lanes along those routes will be subject to parking tickets within 24 hours when they impede plowing.

The activation will remain in place until the City determines parking on snow routes can resume.

Affected snow routes are identified with a blue snowflake tab on the upper side of snow route parking signs.

Phase 1 consists of 25 kilometres of roadways on all sides of the city. Maps are available online at the City’s website which also has a digital mapping tool so residents can see if they’re impacted by typing in their addresses.

City transportation manager Darwin Juell told media in an online press conference that a weather prediction system made it clear several days ago Lethbridge was going to face a significant snowfall this week.

City crews hit the roads promptly, sanding and salting roads Tuesday night but the street surfaces were so warm the snow melted and between 1 and 3 a.m. the precipitation began to freeze again.

“We were out there first thing in the morning, we had guys continually doing sanding and salting,” Juell said.

He said traffic was slow between 5 and 8 a.m. then a vehicle mishap occurred.

“So that’s where we have to remind people to change your tires to winter tires, drive to the conditions.”

The City is running seven sanding trucks and has gone into its winter shift mode with between 20-24 operators working two shifts. In winter mode, the City normally works 16 hours a day. But when a snowfall with the intensity of Wednesday’s hits, the City will work 24 hours a day with those same crews, Juell said.

With more snow expected in coming days, the City is anticipating more problems with road conditions and is ready for it.

“We’ll have extra people out there,” Juell said. 

The Weather Network says between five and 10 cm of snow are expected here Saturday and less than five cm Sunday. But there is a 70 per cent chance of between 10-15 cm on Monday and another five to 10 on Tuesday.

Plows have also been clearing pathways along University Drive on the westside for pedestrians, he said.

“We’re plowing as fast as the snow is coming down for those pedestrians on the pathways. That’s our accelerated level of service for pathway operations now,” Juell said.

Traffic issues early Wednesday can be attributed to a variety of factors, Juell said, with the first significant snowfall every year being problematic for drivers who haven’t adjusted to winter conditions by slowing down or changing to winter tires on their vehicles.

In his 17 years here, Juell said he’s seen some major snowfalls. While one storm was predicted for Oct. 21-22, it turned out to be “rather nothing.”

The declaration was made Wednesday to give residents notice so the City can start plowing roads quicker today.

“Even last night, we had 10 people working throughout the night sanding, salting and doing everything we could but the roads were so warm that snow melted and it froze back,” he said.

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