Extreme Snow & Cold
When snowfall is in the forecast, preparation and planning are important in keeping everyone safe and minimizing impacts on you and your family.
The City monitors road and weather conditions throughout the winter. When snow and icy conditions are forecast, crews and equipment are dispatched to clear roads on a priority basis. We appreciate your patience during snow events, as municipal crews work to keep City streets clear and safe.
Here’s some important information on the City’s extreme weather response and your responsibilities when the snow flies.
Prior to the snow falling crews spray a salt brine mixture on to the area road network to prevent ice from building up. Then, as the snow starts to fall the City’s heavy equipment, plows and salting/sanding trucks are deployed throughout the City on to six priority routes.
Crews remain on these priority routes until the snow has stopped falling and the road surface remains clear, then they moved to secondary routes.
These six priority routes have been established using the following criteria:
- Access for first responders and to emergency service facilities.
- Main transit routes.
- High volume arterial roads.
- Roads and bridges that provide the only access to large neighbourhood centres.
Here is the link to the priority route maps Priority Route Maps.
Lougheed Highway and the Golden Ears Bridge and Golden Ears Way are maintained by Provincial highways and TransLink contractors. They coordinate snow removal and salting for the zone that runs from Boundary Road in Burnaby to Stave Falls in Mission. TransLink contractors’ phase in additional snow clearing equipment based on weather forecasts and emerging weather conditions. They work continuously while the snow is falling.
Report Hazards
If you see a road or safety hazard for motorists or cyclists on Lougheed Highway, please contact the Mainroad Group on their 24-hour hotline at 604-271-0337 or visit their website at Mainroad 24-hour Public Info Hotline.
If you see a road or safety hazard for motorists or cyclists on the Golden Ears Bridge or Golden Ears Way, please contact Miller Capilano Highway Services on their 24-hour dispatch line at 1-866-918-1010 or visit their website at Home - Capilano Highway Services.
You can access the BC Government Traffic Cameras to see real time road conditions at DriveBC.
You can access TransLink information at Contact Information | TransLink or follow them on social media at @TransLink on X (formerly Twitter) for the latest updates on service disruptions.
School District No. 42, one of the partner agencies of Maple Ridge, has a plan for snow removal around schools based on the severity of a snowfall and the timing. Their staff and contractors are responsible for clearing the sidewalks, parking lots and pathways around school facilities. Maple Ridge is responsible for clearing the roads, not sidewalks.
For information on extreme weather impacts on schools go to School District 42 - Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows (sd42.ca)
Each resident and business of Maple Ridge can contribute to public safety by participating in the following:
City of Maple Ridge Engineering Operations
24 Hour Line 604-463-9581
Email during business hours operations@mapleridge.ca
Lougheed Highway, Haney Bypass
Golden Ears Way/ Golden Ears Bridge
Transit Information
Winter Driving Tips
Download the City’s Alert Maple Ridge | Maple Ridge, BC to get City alerts on extreme weather emergencies or other important categories to keep you and your family safe and informed.
You can find current alerts here: Current Alerts | Maple Ridge, BC
The Snow Plow Tracker
The City has developed a ‘Snow Plow Tracker’ map that uses data from the transponders on our snow clearing fleet. The data will be live during a snow event and is updated as the vehicles move throughout the community, so the location may be approximate. As noted, the full fleet is dispatched as the snowfall warrants, and vehicles move to and from the City’s Operations centre to replenish fuel, salt, sand and brine, depending on the conditions and intensity of the weather event.