Jan 14, 2020

Town crews ready to respond to winter storm

Town of Ladysmith crews are prepared to respond and keep main roads passable as a significant winter storm event that is forecast to drop 10 to 15 centimetres of snow in our area makes its way over Vancouver Island.

Tonight's Committee of the Whole meeting is cancelled due to the weather and rescheduled to January 28, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. 

Town crews have continued throughout the day on Tuesday to clear snow and apply a salt/sand mixture to roads to keep our streets safe for motorists.

The municipality has three ploughs that are used throughout the winter for snow clearing and applying salt/sand mix for better traction on roads.  When it starts to snow, our number one priority is to clean all main roads, emergency routes and the hills in Town.  

More information on our priorities when it starts to snow can be found here: https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/snow-removal

We will notify you on our website and social media of any road closures, such as Symonds Street, due to slippery and unsafe conditions.

We anticipate that the snow in the forecast for overnight Tuesdays into Wednesday morning will require our crews to do some heavy lifting.  Staff is scheduled to respond and will continue clearing roads throughout the night, as required.

When possible, residents are asked not to park on the roads to allow room for ploughs.

When the snow stops it takes roughly 48 hours to clean all 60 km of roads in Ladysmith.  If it starts snowing again during that time, we return to our first priority roads.

You can do your part after a snowstorm by clearing the sidewalks that border onto your property. Shoveling these walkways is a requirement for all homeowners, commercial property owners or the tenants and must be done by 10 a.m. the morning following a snowfall.

Thank you to those citizens who take it upon themselves to assist their neighbours who are elderly and/or those who have mobility challenges.

Residents can visit the Public Works Yard at 330 6th Avenue for a complimentary salt/sand mixture to keep sidewalks safe. The bin is located at the front gate.

Watch the Town’s website and social media on Wednesday morning for any changes to the garbage collection schedule.