Snow Plowing and Removal

Winter Maintenance Zones

During the winter, the Municipality will keep the region's roads safe and accessible for everyone by plowing and removing snow. These maintenance activities are prioritized by traffic volume, usage and location.

The classification and priority of roads are:

Primary Routes: Confederation Way, Franklin Avenue, Mackenzie Boulevard, etc.
Secondary Routes: School zones, transit routes and main access to neighbourhoods
Tertiary Routes: Roads that are steep, narrow or have unique features
Residential Streets: Neighbourhood streets, serviced by the Winter Maintenance Zone program

Download the map of all the roads in Fort McMurray and their classification

Contact information

If you would like to bring something to the attention of the Municipality's Public Works department, or have questions about snowplowing or removal, contact PULSE.

Snow plowing

Snow plowing is when accumulated snow is pushed from the roadway to the side or to the centre of the road to maintain at least one traffic lane in each direction. This process is different than snow removal and since it is not as time consuming as snow removal, it happens more frequently.

Snow plowing priorities:

Primary routes will be plowed and sanded continuously during a snow fall.
Secondary routes will be plowed and sanded after primary routes, followed by high-volume intersections and turning lanes.
The first 15 metres from all stop and yield signs will be plowed to both sides of the street and sanded as required. (This will only be done after primary and secondary streets are completely plowed.)
Snow accumulation of four centimetres or more will be removed from designated trails, sidewalks, parking lots, stairs and boardwalks within 48 hours. Aggregates and ice-melting products will be applied as required.
Residential streets will be plowed as per the Winter Maintenance Zone schedule. Plowing will be to both sides of the street, adjacent to the curb. Driveway access is the responsibility of the resident or property owner. Learn more about the Winter Maintenance Zone program.

Snow removal

Snow removal is the process of loading snow into trucks and hauling it to storage sites. Snow removal is more time consuming and costly than snow plowing, so it happens less frequently.

Snow-hauling priorities:

Snow will be removed from primary and secondary routes where there is limited on-street storage
Snow may be hauled from residential streets when the remaining parking and driving width is reduced to 5.5 metres or less
The first 15 metres from all stop and yield signs, snow will be plowed to both sides and/or removed
Height of snow windrows will not exceed one meter in order to maintain sight lines and visibility.
During snow hauling, street signs will be posted a minimum of 48 hours in advance.
Snow removal on residential streets will be done as warranted. High-density residential areas, safety concerns and sight line areas will be completed on a priority basis. Some exceptions may apply due to specific street configurations and weather trends.

Highways

Alberta Transportation is responsible for the maintenance of Highways 63 and 881, including the interchanges accessing the highways. For more information on highways, phone 1-800-390-2242 or follow the province on Twitter at @ABTransComm.

Sidewalks and pathways

Keeping our sidewalks clear and safe for pedestrians is a shared responsibility between residents and the Municipality.

Sidewalks adjacent to commercial or residential properties are the responsibility of the owners, occupants or tenants and must be cleared within 48 hours after a snow fall. The Municipality will clear snow that has spilled over on sidewalks in active Winter Maintenance Zones while maintenance was occurring.

Sidewalks, pathways and trails that border municipal owned land are the responsibility of the RMWB to keep clear and safe. Routes to schools and emergency facilities will be prioritized, followed by sidewalks along primary and secondary routes and then trails. Groups that use the trails throughout the winter assist with grooming duties.