City asks drivers to park off road when snow starts

KELOWNA – A significant amount of snow is expected by mid-week and city crews are gearing up to clear it away.

They are asking Kelowna residents to do their part by moving vehicles off road wherever possible once the snow starts, the City of Kelowna said in a press release.

“Residents are asked to be patient as crews will focus on maintaining the service levels of priority one and two routes when significant snow falls before attending to local roads in neighbourhoods,” roadways supervisor Stephen Bryans said.

“Residents are encouraged to move their vehicles off the road to help plows clear the snow from curb to curb safely and quickly.”

The city clears snow and de-ices municipal roads based on their priority status. Priority one includes high-traffic roads such as Gordon Drive.

Priority two includes collector roads such as Richter Street, bus routes, school zones, town centers and emergency vehicle stations. Priority three includes local roads within neighbourhoods.

Highway 97 and Highway 33 are maintained by the Provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

While no advisory has been issued, in case of a snow event advisory, a temporary parking ban will come into effect in snow route areas including Wilden, the Ponds, Magic Estates and Dilworth Mountain.

For more information on snow routes and to check if a snow event advisory is in effect at any given time, visit kelowna.ca/transportation.

To contact a reporter for this story, email John McDonald or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.