City of Regina crews busy tackling winter blast

The City of Regina’s storm response was in full swing Friday morning as crews worked on clearing more than 12 centimetres (or roughly five inches) of snow off city streets.

Tyler Bien, the city’s manager of roadways seasonal operations, said roughly 50 pieces of equipment were operational throughout Regina on Friday.

“We would enter into the systematic plow mode this evening,” Bien said. “By the end of the weekend, everybody should see a vast improvement in the road network.

“If you are travelling on the roads today, our crews are out and about. If you come upon any of our plowing operations, just ensure you leave 3 1/2 car-lengths and allow for them to clear the stall as they need to.”

City crews are clearing roads based on importance, starting with high-importance intersections followed by other streets around Regina.

“A Category 1 street would be your main arterials such as Ring Road, Lewvan, Albert and Broad Street,” Bien said. “Your Category 2 streets are your transit routes.

“And then the Category 3s are designated to other transit roads, schools, roads, and anything else that feeds out of residential areas.”

Just after 10 a.m. Friday, the city declared snow routes were in effect.

That means from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, on-street parking along identified routes won’t be allowed as crews try to plow from curb to curb.

Environment Canada said Friday that a low-pressure system tracking through Saskatchewan would continue to bring snow to most of the central and southern parts of the province.

Some areas south of Regina are expected to receive over 15 cm by the end of Friday evening.

A snowfall warning remained in place for areas across the province.