COQUITLAM, B.C., December 8, 2023 – With snow in the forecast for this weekend, Coquitlam City crews are hard at work getting ready, and residents are also asked to be prepared.
The forecast calls for a weather system rolling in Saturday morning bringing steady rain and a snow/rain mix. Accumulations will vary with the potential of up to 10 cm of slushy snow at higher elevations.
City Crews Ready and Busy
City crews have been preparing for the winter season for several weeks and are at the ready to deal with this forecasted weather condition with plow trucks and salt trucks set to roll. Public Works management is monitoring the situation closely to mobilize additional resources as necessary.
Crews are also still working on drainage maintenance work after the significant atmospheric river event this past Monday that dropped over 100 mm of rain in less than 24 hours. In light of the forecast, additional drainage teams are being brought in to ensure debris is removed and the drainage system is clear.
Coquitlam’s public work crews will be out in full force today, overnight and through tomorrow taking proactive measures, which includes salting and brining the roads.
Residents Encouraged to Be Prepared
Residents are also asked to take proactive steps and follow safety measures before, during and after the storm event.
Clear Catch Basins and Remove Debris
- Clear the catch basins next to your property to prevent flooding.
- The recent atmospheric event brought down a lot of leaves and debris, and it’s important that residents clear it away from catch basins so that when the snow melts, the water can properly flow away.
- Use the City’s catch basin map at coquitlam.ca/AdoptaCatchBasin to locate catch basins next to your property.
- To report any flooding issues, please contact Engineering Customer Service via email at: epw@coquitlam.ca or by phone at 604-927-3500.
- Ensure gutters on homes and buildings are clear of debris, and rake up debris to prevent it from plugging drains.
Park on Your Property When Snow is in the Forecast
When snow is in the forecast, we ask all residents not to park on the street. Parking in your driveway, garage, carport or other spot on your property ensures that our plows will be able to clear curb to curb. Coquitlam has implemented a number of parking restrictions to help City crews to plow streets clear of snow to make them safer for driving. Visit coquitlam.ca/WinterWise and check the parking tab with details on specific restrictions.
Help Keep Our Sidewalks Safe
All residents and property owners are required to clear all the sidewalks around their property within 10 hours of the snow stopping. By following the Snow and Ice Removal clause of the City’s Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw, everyone contributes to keeping our sidewalks safe and accessible for everyone in the community.
Winter Wise
Coquitlam’s Winter Wise program kicks into gear each winter to minimize the impact of winter events.
- Public Works can store up to 2,000 tonnes of salt.
- The City’s snow removal fleet uses as many as 22 vehicles during significant snow events.
- The City has over 1,200 km of road lanes to plow depending on the event - this is why we plow our routes according to a priority system ensuring accessibility for emergency and transit vehicles on collector, arterial and emergency and bus routes connecting major sections of our community.
More information about City services and resident responsibilities during the winter months can be found at coquitlam.ca/WinterWise.
Media contact:
Brad Lofgren
Director, Public Works
604-927-3500
epw@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.