City of Grande Prairie prepares for 2024/2025 snow clearing: What residents need to know

The City of Grande Prairie's snow removal teams are fully prepared for the 2024/2025 winter season, having already responded to significant snowfall over the past weekend.

As winter sets in, crews will continue managing snow to ensure safe and efficient travel throughout the city. Full winter operations, including sanding and plowing priority roads, were underway this week, with crews ready for any upcoming snowfalls.

Snow Removal Operations
The City manages snow removal in three key ways:

• Priority Road Clearing: High-traffic roads (priority 1 and 2) receive immediate attention to ensure access for emergency services, transit and residents. Once clear, crews focus on priority 3 roads for additional plowing and sanding.
• Residential Road Clearing: Snow is removed from residential roads in a two-week rotation when declared, usually following significant snow accumulation.
• Rural Service Area Clearing: The City maintains 40 km of rural roads, handling snow removal and ice control as needed.

Priority Road Breakdown

• Priority 1 Roads: Major arterials, including 100 Street, 84 Avenue, 68 Avenue, Resources Road and Highway 40 - Wapiti Road, as well as key access routes for emergency services.
• Priority 2 Roads: Transit bus routes and major collectors like Crystal Lake Drive, Mission Heights Drive, Poplar Drive and Royal Oaks Drive.
• Priority 3 Roads: City-owned roads in industrial and commercial areas, excluding private business roads or parking lots.

Residential Snow Clearing Schedule
Residential streets will be cleared in a two-week rotation, with each snow clearing day assigned to specific neighbourhoods. The work is triggered only when there's significant snowfall or when snow starts to build up. Contracted crews work Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Week A and Week B System: Neighborhoods are assigned to "week A" or "week B" schedules, with the assigned day remaining consistent each time snow clearing is declared.

"Grande Prairie prides itself on being a winter city, and with that our snow removal team is dedicated to keeping roads clear and accessible for everyone so we can all safely enjoy the season," said Grande Prairie Mayor, Jackie Clayton. "We thank residents for their patience and understanding as our crews work to keep everyone safe and connected. We also encourage everyone to sign up for text or email notifications, it's an excellent tool for staying informed. Or follow our daily snow updates on social media so you can stay in the know on Snow Removal Operations, right at your fingertips."

Stay updated on snow removal operations by signing up for email and text messaging alerts through the City's website. Additionally, residents can track snow clearing progress in real-time using our residential snow clearing map. For these resources and more information, visit cityofgp.com/snow or contact AccessGP by calling 311 or emailing [email protected].

The City thanks residents for their cooperation and patience as we work to keep Grande Prairie accessible this winter.