District of Central Saanich

Road Safety & Clearing

Our Public Works Roads department monitors changing winter road conditions during regular hours of work looking for hazardous conditions. Please direct all requests, comments and concerns directly to the Public Works Department at 250-544-4224. The department is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

After hours, Central Saanich Police monitor road conditions by the officers in the field; during those hours, please call Central Saanich Police at 250-652-4441.

We are responsible for keeping well over 130 km of roads safe and passable; once a roadway is identified as potentially hazardous, operations staff respond based on snow clearing response priorities. Our service operates seven days a week to handle after-hour requests or problems.

Snow & Ice Control Tips

Your patience and co-operation is appreciated when our snow and ice control program is in operation. The following tips are to assist you:

If possible, do not park your vehicle on the street or in your cul-de-sac. An empty street makes the passage of snow plows and salt spreaders much easier.
Do not try to stop the plow truck operators and give the snow plow operators as much room as possible. Our drivers are aware of the surroundings, but the equipment is large and visibility can be difficult at times. Please do not attempt to wave down or step out in front of a salt truck or plow to get the driver’s attention.
Walk on the left side of the road (facing traffic) on roadways where there are no sidewalks or the sidewalks are impassable due to snow.
Please place the snow on the right side of your driveway as you face the road. This will keep snow plows from filling in your driveway as they clear the roads. (Pushing the snow from your driveway onto the road will add to the pack on the roads making a hazardous situation and increases danger.)
Please shovel any catch basins if they are in front of your home. After a snow event when temperatures begin to rise will allow snow to melt and it will began to drain into the storm system and will reduce the chance of flooding and icing in the road. In turn will reduce the chance of flooding your own property.

Snow and Ice FAQs

What are the Central Saanich snow removal routes?

Sanding/salting and snow plowing operations are generally completed in the following manner:

First Priority: Emergency routes, public transit routes, arterial routes, major collectors, school roadways and some roads in hilly areas are given first priority. Plowing and salt/sanding will continue as long as adverse weather conditions exist. Snow will be cleared from all emergency establishments and surrounding routes. These areas include the police station, fire station, ambulance station, and the hospital.

Second Priority: Collector roads and some cul-de-sacs in hilly areas identified. Clear and maintain collector roads and designated hill and problem areas.

Third Priority: Clearing cul-de-sacs and no thru roads. Work is carried out during regular working hours except in an extreme snow event. Clear cul-de-sacs is generally done last. It can take up to 48 hours to reach the cul-de-sacs from the time it stops snowing. If snow falls again within that time, crews must then return to the streets with higher priority. Understandably, this lengthens the response time for residential and cul-de-sac roads and is the prime cause of inquiries on snow control.

Am I responsible for clearing the sidewalk outside my house?

Who do I notify about slippery roads and sidewalks?

Public roads and sidewalks in front of municipal buildings: Please direct all concerns to the Public Works Department at 250-544-4224. The department is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a standby service operating seven days a week to handle priority off-hours Public Works-related emergencies. To report an issue after regular office hours, please call Central Saanich Police at 250-652-4441.

Private sidewalks: Please fill out the Bylaw Complaint Form. The District of Central Saanich requires all complaints in writing, submitted to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer, and must contain the following:

The location of the alleged offence (street address);
Type of alleged offence; and,
Name, address and telephone number of the Complainant*.

*Information about the Complainant is kept confidential and is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Unless a complaint becomes a matter for the courts, the information will remain confidential.

Who can I call if I have a request or complaint?