A Moment with the Mayor: Winter Road Maintenance

I’m often asked, “How does the city deal with snow?” We know it’s likely to come every year, but the questions of when, how much, and whether it’ll bring wind keep us guessing.

The answer is both simple and complex. The City of Lloydminster has a detailed policy in place for managing snow on our streets. Crews are equipped to maintain priority and secondary roadways, which include key areas like Highways 16 and 17, school zones, and more. As you can imagine, clearing snow during a winter storm or blizzard comes with plenty of challenges, making this process far from straightforward. To help with slippery conditions caused by packed snow and ice, our winter maintenance crews operate sanding units to improve traction on roads.

Another crucial responsibility of our road maintenance team is managing sidewalks and paths throughout the city, including those within Bud Miller All Seasons Park. The downtown area, however, presents a unique challenge not found elsewhere. Snow can’t simply be piled up downtown; it must be removed entirely if plowing is to happen. The City works alongside local contractors to grade and haul away snow at the earliest opportunity. This ensures streets remain accessible for parking and businesses can operate smoothly. Coordinating this process involves careful scheduling to accommodate both contractors and city needs, and these operations typically occur overnight.

Residential snow removal, on the other hand, is an entirely different story—and a challenging one for both the community and the winter maintenance crews. Throughout the winter, the City closely monitors road conditions and snowfall levels. Fluctuating temperatures often complicate matters, sometimes helping and sometimes creating new issues.

When assessing residential roads, the big questions are: Are the streets passable as the snow falls and compacts? Is a full city-wide snow removal necessary? This decision isn’t taken lightly because it comes with a significant cost—potentially millions of dollars. We also need to consider the uncertainty of what weather might come next. Will another removal be needed soon after?

The City has decided to proceed with a city-wide snow removal, which is now nearing completion. The balance between cost and service is something City Council and Administration carefully navigate to ensure the best outcomes for residents in our amazing community.

Thank you for helping us get the job done this winter!

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster