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Richmond encouraged to prepare for winter

Published 11:45 PST, Thu January 16, 2025
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When it comes to weather, today the world is turned upside down with severe snow and ice storms in Texas, Georgia and the Carolinas, and across the country on the west coast wind-driven wildfires raging across California and an earthquake hits China, while here in Vancouver, 2024 saw the city’s wettest year since 1999. As we watch mother nature through the eyes of media we are once again reminded to provide information on what the City of Richmond are doing to prepare for the upcoming winter and how businesses and residents can help. The following information can be viewed in detail on their website richmond.ca
Get ready for winter — snow removal
The Roads and Construction Department of the Engineering and Public Works Division has the responsibility of maintaining the streets and roads of Richmond in all-weather situations. During the winter months, ice and snow removal requires additional maintenance. During these periods, the department ensures all major roads are cleared and sanded so that emergency vehicles (ambulance, fire trucks and police), public transit and private vehicles are able to travel. The aim is to accomplish this task most cost-effectively while still maintaining a high level of service to the public.
Everything you wanted to know about snow clearing in Richmond
How many trucks does the city of Richmond use?
The city can deploy up to 11 large trucks during a storm event, to clear 316 km of designated routes. During a storm, the crews work around the clock, driving, planning, dispatching, and maintaining equipment.
Why is salt used?
Salt is used as the principal de-icer because it is most readily available and most cost effective. The primary type used is rock salt mined from the earth. When salt is applied to ice and snow, it creates a brine solution that has a lower freezing temperature than the temperature of the surrounding ice. Salt alone becomes ineffective after –6°C so sand is added to the mix.
What are the sanding/salting/plowing priorities?
The city’s primary responsibility is public safety with the first priority for plowing and sanding all major (or "arterials") roads and bus routes to facilitate the travel of emergency vehicles and public transportation.
What are the hours of work for the sanding/salting/plowing crews?
During a storm event, crews begin working around the clock in two shifts, sometimes up to 14 hours a day. When a snowfall with significant accumulation is forecast, crews head out early to salt the roads, which helps prevent ice from building up. At the end of a snow event, crews will resume their regular winter schedule:
Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Phone: 604-270-8721
Personnel are on 24-hour standby, 7 days a week.
Get ready for winter — how to prepare your property
• Do you have a good snow shovel by your door? They sell out fast during snow days and Traffic Bylaw 5870 requires residential (single-family and multi-family) owners and occupants, as well as commercial and industrial properties, are to remove snow and ice no later than 10:00am daily.
• Shovel snow onto your lawn or a designated parking stall, not the street. Shoveling snow onto the street is a hazard for vehicles and creates more work for snow plows, slowing down the clearing process — it also increases the chance that snow will be pushed back onto your driveway or sidewalk.
• Locate and clean catch basins or storm drains in the roadway in front of your home of debris such as fallen leaves, branches and snow for proper drainage. Take care not to bury these grates or gutters when shoveling snow.
• Clear leaves from your roof’s eaves and ensure appropriate drainage near your house to prevent puddling.
• Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm.
• Store a de-icer product and spread it on your walkways after ice forms to give traction; organic and ecologically safe de-icers won’t corrode concrete and are safer for vegetation, pets and children.
• Do not use salt or de-icers on new concrete (poured within one year), they cause repetitive freeze-thaw cycles that lead to surface spalling (water crystallizing in pores). Follow manufacturer's instructions; which typically advise to use sand instead. Have a snow shovel on hand.
• If you have a fire-hydrant in front of your home, please clear the snow around it for easy emergency access.
• If possible, park your vehicle in your driveway and garage to free up street space for plows.
• Consider alternative safe heating sources in the event of a power outage or heating system failure. Make sure your home is properly insulated and ensure cold air is kept out.
• If you experience a power outage, check the BC Hydro outage map/list to see if they already know about it. If your outage isn't listed, call 1-800-BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9276) to report the outage.
• Downed power lines should be considered energized and dangerous — please stay away (at least 10 metres) and call 911.
• If your home loses power, unplug sensitive electronic equipment to protect them from possible voltage surges/irregularities when power is restored. Do not use outdoor barbeques or heating devices indoors. If you have an emergency gasoline-powered generator, keep it far away from doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide from entering your home.
• Know how to shut off water valves and be aware of pipes that may freeze.
• Keep heating appliance air intakes or exhaust ports clear of snow and ice.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from any combustible materials, do not use with extension cords, and do not leave heaters or candles unattended or with unsupervised children or pets.
• Keep curbs free from debris and bins. Remove any garbage, recycling and organic bins off roadways where snow plowing may take place. Check richmond.ca for notices about delayed collection.
Get ready for winter — what about sidewalks?
The city clears the parking lots and walkways of all civic facilities, such as community centres. It is the responsibility of the owner or occupier of all residential (single and multi-family), industrial and commercial property to remove all snow and ice from the sidewalk, for a distance that coincides with the property line, by 10 a.m. every day (including Sunday) per city's Traffic Control and Regulation Bylaw 5870.
Shovel your sidewalks it’s the By-Law
Richmond home owners and occupants play a vital role in keeping sidewalks safe for pedestrians during the winter.
Home owners and occupants are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the front, and if on a corner lot, along the side(s) of their property by 10 a.m., 7 days a week. A fine for not shoveling against owners and occupants who fail to remove snow and ice can be subject to a fine of $125.00. (Bylaw 5870, section 6.1.)
How the city prepares for ice and snow
The city’s winter weather response begins long before any snow begins to fall.
• Richmond stockpiles 400 to 600 metric tonnes of salt and secure access of 1,200 to 1,500 metric tonnes of salt for the calendar year, amounts based on 2024 and a five-year average usage.
• All equipment is serviced, operating staff are refreshed on procedures, and new staff are trained on operating snow clearing equipment.
• Road hazards are repaired or marked for plow operations.
• Starting Nov. 1, staff receive detailed daily weather reports for the next 48-hour period. If snow is forecasted, crews start working up to 12 hours ahead, laying down anti-icing liquid brine and/or salt on the roads to prevent frost and ice from forming.
What to expect from the city during a storm
Council Policy 7013 Roadways — Ice and Snow Removal governs the city’s response to snowfall. The policy outlines the priority routes for salting, sanding and plowing and is reviewed by staff and council regularly.
During storms, the city ensures all major roads are cleared and sanded so that emergency vehicles (ambulance, fire trucks and police), public transit and private vehicles are able to travel key routes.
• First priority routes (217 km of road) are salted/sanded or cleared first. First priority routes include all bus routes and section line roads (i.e., No. 1 Road, No. 2 Road, No. 3 Road, etc.)
• Second priority routes (22 km of road) are main collector roads through major subdivisions and industrial roadways as shown on the Snow Response Route Map.
• Third priority routes (77 km of road) are only serviced once the first and second priority routes are cleared and under control. If conditions deteriorate, crews will cease operations on the third priority routes and re-focus resources on the first and second priority routes.
• View a more detailed version of this map at richmond.ca