Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Kneeshaw

SNOW CLEARING

City of Kamloops crews increasing snow removal efforts to limit build up

Jan 6, 2022 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — The first week of the new year has brought fresh snowfall for City of Kamloops plows to clear, and their work is far from over.

Streets and Environmental Services Manager Glen Farrow says city crews have been working long hours to plow streets, and sand slippery intersections and hills. And with the amount of snowfall the city has accumulated over the past two months, crews are also working on snow removal to limit build up.

“We have also started collecting snow on some bus routes that have become narrower. So up on Abbeyglen, Lodgepole, Gleneagles, we are addressing some of those areas where it’s become narrower,” says Farrow, “As well as some of those two-lane arterials – so Hillside Drive, Westsyde Road – we will be looking to remove that snow.”

Latest numbers on the snow clearing budget haven’t come in yet, but based on how difficult December snow was, Farrow says they’ve likely to exceed the budget. Like other sectors, the city is also facing its share of staffing challenges, but snow clearing service levels have not been impacted.

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“The fact that we’re able to have staff work additional hours and additional overtime, that’s really what offsets when we have less staff available for us,” explains Farrow, “As I’ve said time and time again, it’s not about the snow clearing budget, it’s about service levels. So when we have to have staff stay later or longer on overtime, that’s just what we need to do to ensure that we’re meeting those council approved service levels.”

With more snow in the forecast, the city is reminding residents to give plow operators the space they need to do their job. People are also being asked to stay on top of their own shovelling to keep walkways clear, and reduce the size of windrows.