
Snow and Ice Control
Snow and ice control is important to reduce hazards and provide reasonable winter mobility on roads, sidewalks and pathways

As soon as snowfall occurs, the Town begins preparations to sand, salt, plow streets and move snow from roadways and pathways.
The Town maintains a variety of equipment including plow trucks, skid steers, small plows and a broom machine to clear and maintain our roads. Public Works crews work alongside contractors to clear priority routes, the downtown and designated pathways along with public sidewalks and walkways.
A priority system ensures our highest traffic roadways are cleared first.
High River snow removal crews must maintain the driving lane on priority routes to a safe, reasonable winter driving condition. Priority routes include:
- Major roads such as Macleod Trail, Center Street and High Country Drive.
- School bus and emergency vehicle routes.
- Busy intersections, hills and corners.
- Contractors are in place to clear the downtown sidewalks, and some major roads.
Once priority routes are cleared, crews move into residential zones.
During prolonged and heavy snowfall, priority routes may need ongoing attention to keep them safe. Public Works crews are working hard to clear every street in town as quickly and efficiently as possible for your safety.
Please see the information below for guidelines on how to help the town efficiently clear snow.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding when crews are working hard to clear every street in town as quickly and efficiently as possible!
If you would like to share a concern or incident, please use our online Report a Problem form to let us know of any issues, concerns – or kudos to our hard-working crews. This is the fastest way to share information. You can also contact Public Works Administration or Town Hall directly by calling. Contact numbers are in the menu on this page.
Learn More About Snow and Ice Control
Snow Removal - Priority Routes
Public Works crews work alongside contractors to clear priority routes, the downtown and designated pathways along with public sidewalks and walkways. During prolonged and heavy snowfall, priority routes may need ongoing attention to keep them safe.
Priority 1 roads (Cleared within 24 hours of a snowfall):
- Major roads such as Macleod Trail, Center Street and High Country Drive.
- School bus and emergency vehicle routes.
- Busy intersections, hills and corners.
- Contractors are in place to clear the downtown sidewalks, and some major roads.
During prolonged and heavy snowfall, priority routes may need ongoing attention to keep them safe.
Priority 2 roads (Cleared within 48 hours):
- Areas reported by RCMP.
- Intersections, corners, hills, school zones, and playground zones.
- Remaining Town Facilities.
- Happy Trails
Priority 3 routes includes all other residential areas. These routes will be cleared on an as needed basis once Priority 1 and 2 routes are cleared.
Windrows to Maintain Driving Lanes
Windrows
To maintain driving lanes, crews use “flat-blading" which results in a build-up of snow along the side of a roadway. This snow buildup is called a windrow. While this is good for motorists, the snow left over after crews have flat-bladed can create some extra work for property owners.
- Plow operators operate on a strict schedule as they move from one neighbourhood to the next.
- They make every attempt to keep driveways clear or keep windrows as small as possible by evenly distributing the snow on either side of the road.
- To enable crews to remain on schedule, property owners are responsible to remove the snow from their driveways and sidewalks.
- After heavy snowfalls, windrows can build up. Under extreme circumstances, windrows will be removed in accordance with the Town’s approved Snow and Ice Control Policy.
At times, snowplows may place excess snow on grass boulevards between roads and sidewalks. Please do not remove this snow, it will be transported as soon as crews are available.
What You Can Do - Resident Safety Tips and Links for Information
It's important to remember that we live in Alberta where the weather can change quickly and winter storms can be widespread and last for longer than a day or two.
- Everyone is strongly encouraged to stay home and stay safe if possible during winter storms
- Stay clear from storm ponds, and river, while they may look frozen ice maybe unsafe. Visit the Ice Safety Page for more information.
- High visibility clothing and making sure kids are safe around roads and intersections is important!
- If you are out, please adjust your driving conditions and consider reducing travel distance and speed and increase following distance.
- Visibility will be poor at times and poor weather conditions will persist during this winter storm. Drive slowly, especially in school and playground zones and near crosswalks and intersections.
Lastly, be a Good Neighbour! See the section below on residential and commercial responsibilities to clear snow within 24 hours to keep sidewalks in front of your properties safe for pedestrians.
Good Neighbour Bylaw - Residential and Commercial Responsibilities
The Good Neighbour Bylaw requires that to keep walkways safe residents are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in front or your home within 24 hours of snowfall.
- Snow and ice from private property must be contained on your own green space and not plowed onto the public roads. This helps ensure roads are clear from any excess snow and are safe to travel after the town has plowed the roads.
- As roads are cleared, excess snow will be moved onto grass boulevards. Please DO NOT move this snow, it will be transported once crews are available.
- If you know of anyone who needs help, High River has a Snow Angel Program and volunteers are appreciated!
If you are unable to remove snow, please make arrangements with friends, neighbours or contractors. Snow and ice removal is important for everyone’s safety. High River's Snow Angel Program is administered through the Town's Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) . Volunteers are appreciated.
Commercial property owners are responsible to clear snow and ice from their privately owned sidewalks, walkways and parking lots within 24 hours of a snowfall. This includes vacant properties.
Downtown Snow Removal
High River's Town Council has directed that clearing downtown sidewalks after every snowfall is a priority, in order to maintain access to businesses in this area.
High River's Downtown is maintained each year through a contracted service, enabling Town crews to focus on priority roads.
Snow and Ice Control Policy
We're here to help, contact us!
640 7 Street N.W. High River, Alberta
Public Works Office: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday
Recycling hours Monday & Friday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Tuesday to Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed on statutory holidays)
operations@highriver.ca
403-652-4657
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