Wallop of winter weather causes crashes, snow-covered roads in Calgary
The City of Calgary says its crews are continuing to clear major roads with a focus on routes leading out of the downtown core after a dump of snow that drastically slowed the Wednesday morning commute.
According to a snow and ice clearing update from the city, some 20 centimetres of snow had fallen as of 3 p.m. and another three centimetres was expected throughout Wednesday afternoon and evening.
The city is working to clear major roads that see an average of 20,000 vehicles or more per day.
"Crews have been working on the priority routes, plowing snow and putting down material where needed, since the snow started," said a news release.
"They will continue this work tonight and into tomorrow."
Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists are advised to use caution while travelling as roads and cycle tracks could be snow-covered and slippery.
Calgary police say 105 crashes were reported between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday, including 13 that involved injuries and nine hit-and-runs.
As of Wednesday at 3 p.m., Calgary remained under a snowfall warning. In it, Environment and Climate Change Canada warned that blowing snow and falling snow could limit visibility and contribute to transportation delays.
City of Calgary officials say they do not expect to issue a snow route parking ban.
Once the snow stops falling on Wednesday night, crews will launch the city's seven-day snowfall clearing plan.
HOW CALGARY HANDLES SNOW-COVERED ROADS
A snow-covered Home Road in northwest Calgary appears in this Dec. 2020 image. (file)The City of Calgary follows a seven-day snow clearing plan, which is activated as soon as snow stops.
First, crews take on Priority 1 routes, which include roads with more than 20,000 vehicles per day, as well as downtown cycle tracks. Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail are maintained by the provincial government.
Crews then focus on Priority 2 routes — roads that carry 5,000 to 19,999 vehicles a day — like Kensington Road and Acadia Drive, as well as designated emergency routes around hospitals and fire stations, bus routes and roads with on-street bike lanes.
After that, crews turn to clearing Priority 3 to Priority 4 routes, which include residential areas and school and playground zones.
The city's annual snow and ice clearing budget is $40.7 million.
SNOW-ROUTE PARKING BANS
The City of Calgary can declare a snow-route parking ban to help road crews clear streets from snow.
The parking bans are put in place when Calgary has seen a significant accumulation of snow.
Once called, snow-route parking bans can be in place for up to 72 hours.
Snow routes are indicated by blue signs with a white snowflake symbol.
Any vehicles left on snow routes during the ban can be ticketed or towed, but on-street accessible parking is exempt.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.