By Tommy Osborne

Snow plows

Keep the streets clear for snow plows

Dec 18, 2023 | 3:28 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – We’ve had an unusually warm and relatively snow-free winter, but more snow is on the forecast, meaning the snow plows will inevitably be hitting the streets again. When that happens, the City of Prince George asks you follow the Snow and Ice Control Route Restriction and Regulation bylaw and stay off the streets when it comes time for clearing.

“I think for sure it creates challenges with road quality. We get into situations where if somebody does want to to pull in and park, they’re unable to. It also affects garbage collection. People are trying to put their garbage on the curb on garbage day, and if there’s a big pile of snow there, it makes it more challenging for them and also for the garbage trucks who are coming by,” said the City’s Manager of Bylaw Services Charlotte Peters when explaining why staying off the streets is important.

“If vehicles are left on the road plows are left in a situation where they may have to try and maneuver around a vehicle, I can tell you that the difficulties in trying to maneuver around a vehicle are challenging for the drivers. We certainly wouldn’t want to get into a situation where a vehicle was damaged by a snowplow, and we want to provide the best possible service we can,” Peters continued.

The bylaw only applies to snow clearing, not general parking, meaning you can still park on the street whenever clearing is not scheduled. If you’re unsure on whether or not you’re allowed to be parked, Peters added city employees will do their best to go door knocking if they see a car parked on the street the day before clearing.

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If you do park on the street during clearing you may be hit with a $50 fine, but the fine isn’t the only reason you should care. Prince George Fire Chief Cliff Warner explained improperly cleared streets could make things more challenging for emergency services during times of crisis.

“Certainly there would be impacts (if roads aren’t cleared properly), but we have the ability to set our trucks up, extreme icy conditions could be an impact on our ability, it would slow us down and it could prevent us from getting to certain areas,” he said.

While it could be difficult, Warner added emergency services has never had a situation where they have been unable to respond due to roads, as he said the vehicles are built for Prince George winters so first responders are ready to adapt when needed.

“Our trucks are designed for the area that we live in. We do have chains on them and we also have additional chains we can add if the climate is such, we respond based on the conditions,” he said.

For more information on snow clearing you can visit the City’s website here.