Winter Snow and Ice Management
Snowfall levels vary in different areas of the city, with less accumulation in Fairview and more in Uphill and areas of Rosemont. Nelson has a snow management plan that allows the city to provide safe routes for motorists and pedestrians. Since the snow removal budget is insufficient to cover the removal of all snow accumulation on every street, our snow plan is based on a priority system.
Priority #1
The first priority is to clear emergency routes and bus routes. These systems of streets provide a plowed street within two or three blocks of all areas of the city. During heavy snowfalls these routes would be the only streets plowed until the snow stops.
Priority #2
The second priority is to plow remaining areas of downtown, major collector roads and school zones.
Priority #3
The third priority is to plow residential streets, beginning with the up down streets, such as Ward Street and Josephine Street, then the cross streets, such as Gore Street and Innes Street.
Priority #4
The fourth priority is to clear all dead end streets. A dead end street is a street with no exit and is sometimes narrow and steep. There are 78 dead end streets in the city, 29 in Rosemont, 28 in Uphill/downtown and 21 in Fairview.
To see the emergency routes, bus routes and dead end streets, choose one of the following PDF maps:
- Rosemont Snow Removal Priority Map [PDF - 99 KB]
- Downtown & Uphill Snow Removal Priority Map [PDF - 151 KB]
- Fairview Snow Removal Priority Map [PDF - 112 KB]
Plowing and Sanding 
The City of Nelson requires equipment, labour and material to plow and sand 67 kilometers of city streets. Based on an average of two travel lanes and one parking lane per block, we plow and sand 201 kilometers of roadway. The City has four single-axle trucks with rear sanding units and under body plows, and one single-axle truck with a front mount plow and sander. A similar truck with front mount plow and sanding unit is used for tight spots and can move quickly to trouble spots.
Removal
Snow that cannot be plowed onto boulevards in various areas of the city must be loaded and hauled away. Accumulated snow is windrowed, and then loaded with the blower into three tandem trucks. The removal plan map shows the downtown areas where snow is loaded and hauled during the midnight and early shifts. Removal in all other areas of the city is completed on day or afternoon shift.
Snow Hauling Removal Map [PDF - 139 KB].
Sidewalk Plowing and Sanding by City Crews
The City's sidewalk snow plowing program states that designated, high traffic sidewalks will be plowed of snow by the Operations department. Of the streets in the program, only one side of the sidewalk will be cleared of snow. This route is a series of sidewalks that gives pedestrians a cleared route to walk to all areas of the City. This program also includes plowing the approved sidewalk route and cleaning steps that are part of our sidewalk system. The approved sidewalk route is 20 kilometers of the total 55 kilometers of sidewalks in the City. Two Bombardier tracked sidewalk plows are used to clear snow from this designated route. When walking on snow covered surfaces, pedestrians are advised to take extra precautions, wear appropriate footwear and choose a sidewalk that has been cleared of snow (if one is available).
Sidewalk Snow Removal Map [PDF - 195 KB].
Sidewalk Snow Removal by Residents
As per Traffic Bylaw 3156 "Every owner or occupier of residential premises shall remove accumulation of snow or ice upon any constructed means of access including but not limited to sidewalks, stairs or driveways adjacent to the land or premises owned or occupied no later than 11:00 am of any day. (Amended by Bylaw No.3203)
Stairs
All stairs are part of the sidewalk system and are cleaned and sanded by our day shift crew.
Widening 
Widening streets entails pushing the windrows of snow on to adjacent boulevards. This is accomplished using three loaders equipped with blades and one loader with a snow blower.
Loader Routes
The city is divided into three areas for special attention by our loaders: dead ends, steep and narrow streets. All of these areas are cleared prior to sanding. Choose a street area in the box below to view the map.
|
Area |
Kilometres |
Map | |
|
View Street |
4.26 |
||
|
Cottonwood Street |
5.36 |
||
|
Rosemont Area |
5.27 |
Sandboxes
There are 46 sandbox locations throughout the city, located on steep and dead end streets that are low priority. We maintain and fill the boxes with sand throughout the winter.
Notice to Motorists, Businesses & Residents
The City of Nelson will endeavor to provide the best level of snow removal service possible. Residents and businesses can provide assistance to City maintenance crews by observing the following practices and bylaws during snow removal season:
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City street parking: "From November 1st to April 30th each year, vehicles are required to be parked on the odd numbered side of the street on odd numbered dates on the calendar; and be parked on the even numbered side of the street on corresponding even numbered dates on the calendar within all residential zones so as not to obstruct the City's snow clearing operations on residential streets during the winter months." (*) If you live on a street that does not have parking on both sides of the street or if your street is too narrow, move your vehicle around the corner of the adjoining street. This practice will allow us to plow close to the curbs and maintain maximum street width. If you have off-street parking available, please do not park on the street.
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Keep parked cars clear of snow for easy visibility to plow operators. Do not leave vehicles and trailers parked on City streets for more than 72 consecutive hours. If leaving town without your vehicle, make provisions to have it cleaned of snow and moved regularly. Under City bylaw, violating vehicles may be towed and impounded at the owner's expense.
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Do not shovel snow from a sidewalk, boulevard or driveway back onto a plowed street.
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According to City bylaw, "Every owner or occupier of a business premises shall remove any accumulation of snow or ice upon any sidewalk abutting the land or premises owned or occupied by the person not later than 11 a.m. of any day except Sunday or holidays." When clearing downtown sidewalks, please do not push the snow into the amenity areas.
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"Every owner or occupier of residential premises shall remove accumulation of snow or ice upon any constructed means of access including but not limited to sidewalks, stairs or driveways adjacent to the land or premise owned or occupied no later than 11:00 a.m. of any day." (*)
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When driving around the City during severe winter conditions, try to follow the transit bus routes. [see Nelson Transit map [PDF - 141 KB]] These routes get first priority for plowing and sanding. Consideration should also be given to riding the bus rather than driving.
Priority # 1
The first priority is to clear emergency routes and bus routes. This would include streets within two or three blocks of all areas of the city. During heavy snowfalls these routes would be the only streets plowed until the snow stops.Priority # 2
The second priority is to plow remaining areas of downtown, major collector roads and school zones.Priority # 3
The third priority is to plow residential streets, beginning with the up and down streets, such as Ward Street and Josephine Street, then the cross streets, such as Gore Street and Innes Street.Priority # 4
The fourth priority is to clear all dead end streets. A dead end street is a street with no exit and is sometimes narrow and steep. There are 78 dead end streets in the City, 29 in Rosemont, 28 in Uphill/Downtown, and 21 in Fairview. - Motorists should reduce driving speed and try to avoid the steep hills during severe winter conditions.
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The City's sidewalk snow plowing program states that designated, high traffic sidewalks will be plowed of snow by the Operations department. Of the streets in the program, only one side of the sidewalk will be cleared of snow. When walking on snow-covered surfaces, pedestrians are advised to take extra precautions, wear appropriate footwear, and choose a sidewalk that has been cleared of snow (if one is available).
-
For the safety of your children, do not allow them to make snow forts in snow banks, or toboggan on City streets.
(*) as per Bylaw No. 3203, amends City of Nelson Traffic Bylaw No. 3156
Thank you for your cooperation.
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