The City of Saskatoon is again encouraging residents to stay home, if they have that option, to provide room, literally, for City and contractor crews to clear roads. The snow has stopped but the City is prepared for strong winds to create more drifts that need to be cleared.

As of Monday morning, the Director of Roadways Goran Saric says approximately 40 per cent of Priority 1 streets have been graded.  That being said, they are now very slippery so sander trucks will spread sand regularly.

By midnight tonight, Monday, March 4, the City expects all Priority 1 streets to be completed and will immediately proceed with grading on Priority 2 streets, which are expected all to be graded by noon Tuesday.

Grading of Priority 3 streets is expected to be complete by midnight on Thursday.  Once all the local streets in residential areas are ploughed, the crews will clear industrial areas.  And if you have a garage that opens to an alley, alley access and problem alleys will be the last area to be addressed.

Saric says it is premature to try and tabulate the cost of this snowstorm.

“The snow removal phase which is the last phase in the emergency response plan, and which is also the most expensive phase of the plan is still to be decided on in the coming days here because we are so close to the end of the winter season.”

Pamela Goulden Mcleod Director of Emergency Management Organization says the Extreme Cold Weather Emergency Plan is activated due to both the snowfall and the extreme cold that is moving into the region.  She says there was a risk Sunday night that the overnight warming centre would not open because the workers couldn’t get in.

“The Saskatoon Police Department and the Saskatoon Fire Department arranged to have staff in 4×4 vehicles go pick up the overnight warming location staff and get them to work.  This ensured the overnight warming location was open overnight.”

It was the only overnight warming location open on Sunday.

Access Transit is running but only for medical and emergency services.  Those with Access Transit booked for leisure purposes will need to rebook.

All Saskatoon Public Libraries are closed and will reopen at noon Monday. The Cosmo Civic Centre, The Shaw Centre, the Field House, Lakewood Civic Centre and Lawson Civic Centre are all closed.

Due to inclement weather, some Provincial Court matters may not be proceeding as scheduled today around the province. Contact your local Provincial Court office to determine whether your matter is proceeding as scheduled.