Our Role as a City
During snow and ice conditions, the City of Burnaby's Engineering Department is prepared and ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Salt is commonly applied as a de-icing agent to melt snow and ice. Salt may also be applied during foggy weather conditions where there is sufficient moisture to create a brine solution on the roadway.
- Brine is a salt and water solution which is pre-batched before distribution onto the roadway. Brine is most commonly used as an anti-ice agent applied to dry pavements to prevent icy conditions from developing in the first place.
- Snow
plows are used when there is enough snow accumulation on roads - Abrasives are used to provide traction on roads where compacted snow and ice cannot yet be removed
Street Clearing
City crews and equipment, along with contracted snow removal services,
- Main arterial streets such as Lougheed, Kingsway and Canada Way
- Emergency response routes
- Bus routes and collector streets
- Streets bordering senior and
long term care facilities - Local roads with slopes that have only one outlet and limited access
- Local roads bordering elementary schools
Snow accumulation on all other streets will be cleared only when the other priorities are met and resources are available.
Snow removal routes are established based on traffic volume, speed, road classification, road terrain, and accessibility by transit and emergency services.
Sidewalk Clearing
We clear in order of priority:
- Bus stops and wheelchair ramps along arterial streets and then collector streets.
- Sidewalks adjacent to municipal facilities such as libraries and community centres.
- Pedestrian overpasses.
