Flurries are in the forecast for early next week and the City of Richmond has a thousand tonnes of salt and almost 150,000 litres of brine to keep traffic moving.in the hopes of avoiding the 2022 snowstorm debacle.
Weatherhood data shows an 81-per-cent chance of snow on Monday in Richmond City Centre, with a high of 4 C and a low of -1 C.
The city's improved snow plan includes preparing 1,050 tonnes of salt with 2,200 tonnes in reserve in addition to the 450 tonnes currently stored in the Works Yard, where the on-site storage is being expanded for this winter season.
The city's salt brine capacity was also increased from 115,000 litres to 145,700 litres.
The plan was approved during a public works and transportation committee meeting last November, where staff was asked about the traffic gridlock in Metro Vancouver cities during the snowstorm on Nov. 29, 2022.
The debacle, which saw people being stuck in traffic for hours due to ice and snow-covered roads, was mainly caused by highway maintenance contractor Mainroad Group, explained city staff.
The contractor's towing operator had gone home in the snow, leaving all stalled or stuck vehicles without assistance during the event.
To remedy the situation, Mainroad has since hired 40 tow truck drivers and will be staffed at key points through all highway entrances 24 hours a day.
City staff added they have also reached a "gentleman's agreement" with Mainroad to look after areas of overlap, such as Steveston Highway over Highway 99 and Knight Street, on a mutual basis.
First year with road sensors in full operation
In addition to increased capacity for salt and salt brine, this year will also be the first year 10 road sensors throughout the city will be in full operation.
Not only do the sensors serve as "mini weather stations" to record accurate real-time temperature information, they also monitor friction on the roads and will send an alarm to staff on call to let them know when it is time to deploy anti-icing and de-icing materials.
The city's 39 pieces of snow response equipment include dump trucks with plow attachments, a flusher truck with 14,000 litres in brine capacity and mobile snow blowers.
As usual, snow clearing in Richmond will be conducted according to the priority listed in the city's snow response route map.
During the committee meeting, staff clarified Gilley Road in the Hamilton neighbourhood is included as a first-priority snow removal route.
"Last year, that was one of the few areas where, when the ice and snow was on, cars couldn't actually get up and over because that's a high street now, and it was becoming a problem street under those conditions," said Coun. Michael Wolfe in support of the road's priority status.
Furthermore, the city will remove snow from priority bus stop locations and wheelchair letdowns on first-priority routes and from areas surrounding civic facilities where possible.
Staff are also looking into amending the bylaw requirement for residents and businesses to clear snow from the sidewalks to provide more clarity and may suggest amendments this month.
For more information on the snow response in the Richmond, visit the City of Richmond's website.
- With files from Valerie Leung
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