City crews clearing main routes out after Saturday snowstorm in Calgary dumps 18 cm of snow

The City of Calgary’s snow crews were out clearing the busiest roads after a major snow dump Saturday.

Snow clearing czar Chris McGeachy said in a media release early Sunday morning that crews were working their way down the priority list, with the busiest first.

According to the city’s website, crews spend the first 18 hours plowing and removing snow on Priority 1 routes.

“We did call in additional contracted crews to help us with that work and we are focused on important pieces of pedestrian infrastructure," McGeacy said, in an interview with CTV News.

“We will move into priority two routes," he added. "Those are your community and transit routes. Typically there the snow routes, the routes that buses travel down and expect that we will be working on those into Monday.”

The City of Calgary said it would lift all snow detours at the beginning of bus service Monday morning, allowing buses to resume their regular routes. 

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Calgary was hit with 18 centimetres of snow Saturday.

ECCC added that there’s a 30 per cent chance of more snow flurries Sunday, with windchills this morning around -30.

On Monday the city will get into residential areas.

“Just a reminder the city does not remove snow from residential areas, we will probably be going through making sure ruts are levelled, applying material as necessary," McGeachy said.

McGeachy wants people to be cognitive of the hazard ice presents during the cold temperatures.