The City of Corner Brook Public Works Department has prepared a snow clearing plan, including preparing for the possibility of flooding.  There are two upcoming weather events anticipated, with the first one starting this afternoon and continuing overnight with a possible snow fall of up to 10-15 cm.  The second low pressure system is expected to commence Thursday night and into Friday morning, with snow, possible ice pellets, and rain.  The wind factor will have an impact on our snow plowing operation as strong winds, ice pellets, and heavy drifting is expected. All available equipment is in operation and contractors will be assisting as required.

We ask the general public to stay a safe distance from snow clearing equipment.  The combination of  these two snow events will affect traffic movement and create slippery conditions at times.  EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED.  Visibility is expected to be a safety hazard within the next 24-72 hours.  All safety protocols and procedures will be in place to assure the residents and city employees are safe during this snow event.

Our snow clearing procedure will concentrate on emergency routes/ main and collector streets. The residential and small roads will follow pending the condition of the emergency routes, mains and collectors roads. Our street and sidewalk snow blowing/street widening operations are continuing and will continue as needed, depending on upcoming weather conditions.

Snow Clearing Information:

• We ask all motoring public to reduce their speeds and to Think Safety during this major snow event.
• The winter parking restrictions are in effect.  On street parking during any snow event delays our ability to efficiently plow our streets and is a safety concern for our operators and general public.
• Snow clearing operations proceed pending safety and weather conditions.
• Each snow clearing route takes approximately 12 hours to plow completely, starting when the snowfall ends.
• Residents are reminded if possible, to stay off the streets and roads while we are snow clearing.  This has a major effect on our ability to plow the roads efficiently and in a safe manner.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mayor Charles Pender
(709) 637-1537

cpender@cornerbrook.com

-Backgrounder-

The City’s streets and roads are divided into 7 main zones and 4 priorities for snow clearing. Priorities are established to provide the greatest assistance to the majority of the travelling public.

 Criteria for setting priorities:

1. Emergency/Priority routes
2. Major routes and School Bus routes

iii. Traffic Volume

1. Road classification
2. Special conditions (roadway geometry and terrain; drift exposure; drainage; etc.)

Priority One: Emergency/Priority routes.

All efforts will stay on Priority one routes until it has stopped snowing and/or they are cleared.

 Priority Two: Streets

• The snow equipment starts on the main roads and school zones first and then move to the side streets. Each zone is covered by 1 or 2 plows depending on their size and complexity.
• Under normal conditions it takes approximately 12 hours to plow each route after the snow has stopped falling.
• During heavy snow events the primary streets may have to be plowed more frequently, thereby extending the time to complete the secondary and residential roads.
• Priority is given to streets based on traffic volume although some streets in industrial areas are exceptions to the traffic volume standard.
• Priority is given to traffic light intersections.

 Priority Three includes all other local roads, including snow clearing and/or sanding of all bus areas.

 Priority Four: After the roads are plowed then attention is focused on clearing sidewalks.

An ongoing assessments of City’s sidewalks may result in some sidewalks being given a lower or higher priority for the purposes of snow and ice removal.