Actions Following Snowfall Events
During heavy snowfall, our priority is to ensure safe driving conditions on high-use, high-priority roads. To maintain traffic flow, snow may need to be pushed from the center of the road toward the curbs. This can create snow ridges across driveway entrances and cause snow to accumulate on sidewalks, which residents will need to clear. If possible, we encourage residents to assist with sidewalk clearing. As per Highway Traffic By-Law No. 5055, please avoid shovelling snow from driveways or ridges back onto the street, as this can create traffic hazards.
Winter Road Maintenance Activities, Methodology, and Priorities
The City performs three winter maintenance activities to improve road traction and ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers:
- Sanding: This increases traction on slippery surfaces, with sand primarily applied at intersections, turning lanes, and hills.
- Snow Plowing: This levels driving surfaces covered with fresh snow or hard-packed, uneven areas.
- Snow Removal: This involves scraping snow and ice and hauling it away.
Snow Removal Schedule
The City of Yellowknife would like to inform residents that the snow removal season for winter 2025/2026 has officially concluded.
We thank all residents for their cooperation and patience throughout the winter months as crews worked to maintain safe and accessible roads, sidewalks, and public spaces across our community.
Thank you for helping keep Yellowknife safe and moving all winter long.
As we transition into spring operations, street sweeping will commence once temperatures are consistently above zero, and it is not a scheduled activity for specific areas of town. Street sweepers will work around vehicles; no notice can be given beforehand to anyone, or any area of town.
Road Prioritization System
Snow and ice management are prioritized based on traffic, safety, and environmental considerations:
- Primary Priorities: Freeways, major arterial roads, emergency routes, main bus routes, and roads near environmentally sensitive areas.
- Secondary Priorities: Remaining arterial roads, additional bus routes, roads in the Central Business District, streets near schools, routes to prioritized City facilities, and other emergency routes.
- Tertiary Priorities: All other City roads, City-owned parking lots, and alleyways.
Crews may work on multiple priority areas simultaneously. For example, a sanding truck might apply sand on top-priority roads while a loader clears a community arena parking lot. Resources are allocated strategically to balance priorities, maximize equipment use, and ensure efficient operation.
We appreciate your patience as we carry out snow removal across the City. If snow removal on your street isn’t scheduled soon, we’ll assess the situation and may use a grader to improve road conditions. In the meantime, please drive safely.
Snow Removal Details
- Process: Snow removal involves using graders, loaders, and snow-hauling trucks to clear snow and ice from roads
- Season: Typically runs from December to late April, with adjustments based on temperature and snowfall
- Frequency: Residential areas are usually serviced once per season, while the downtown core is cleared twice
- Notifications: Residents are informed of upcoming snow removal via radio ads and signs placed 24 hours before removal
- Timing: Snow removal begins at 12:00 a.m. and occurs early in the morning to avoid conflicts with motorists, pedestrians, and children at play. Expect bright lights and noise from heavy equipment; please be patient, as this timing is chosen to minimize disruptions. Additional seasonal staff and contractors support this operation
- Parking: Residents must move parked vehicles by midnight on the scheduled day to avoid towing
- Traffic: Expect delays in snow removal areas and consider alternate routes if possible
- Driveway Entries: Snow removal may result in a drop-off at driveway entrances, typically 100-300mm (4-12 inches) in height, depending on accumulation. Residents may need to create a ramp from the driveway to street level, as this is not provided by the City
- Driving Tips: If driving before snow removal is complete, please keep to the right of any snow piles in the street center
The City thanks you for your patience and reminds residents to use caution in snow removal areas and avoid passing moving equipment.
Snow Removal & Garbage Pick-Up
The City of Yellowknife needs your cooperation with snow removal and garbage pickup.
Please ensure streets are clear of obstacles for operators to perform snow removal in the early hours of the morning. Signs are placed 24 hours in advance in areas of snow removal so residents are aware snow removal will be taking place.
The City would also like to remind residents that once garbage bins have been emptied, return them to your property so streets are clear for snow road maintenance.
The City appreciates your assistance in this matter to ensure a smooth snow removal transition.