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Region of Queens Municipality
Operational Policy No. 99 - Winter Maintenance
__________________________________________________________________
BE IT ENACTED by the Council of Region of Queens Municipality, under the
authority of the Municipal Government Act, S.N.S. 1998, Chapter 18, as follows:
This policy shall be known as Operational Policy No. 99 and may be cited
as the "WINTER MAINTENANCE POLICY."
POLICY PURPOSE
The purpose of the Winter Maintenance Policy is to define the level of service for
winter operations at Region of Queens Municipality. It ensures that Municipal
transportation infrastructure (roads and sidewalks) and public facilities are
managed effectively during snow, ice, and other winter weather events or
conditions, while providing a consistent, transparent, and measurable level of
service throughout the community.
AUTHORITY
Sections 47 and 48 of the Municipal Government Act provide that:
47(1)
Council shall make decisions in the exercise of its powers and duties
by resolution, by policy or bylaw.
48(3)
In addition to matters specified in this Act or another Act of the
Legislature, the council may adopt policies on any matter that the
council considers conducive to the effective management of the
municipality.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Responsibility for the oversight and implementation of this policy shall lie with the
Chief Administrative Officer of Region of Queens Municipality.
SCOPE
The Winter Maintenance Policy shall apply to Municipal assets under the
jurisdiction of Region of Queens Municipality.
DEFINITIONS
Anti-icing: is the application of a chemical or other agent to prevent or reduce
the opportunity for precipitation or frost to bond to the surface.
De-icing: is the application of a product such as road salt or traction sand to the
top of the snow, frost or iced surface to promote melting of the snow, frost or ice
or provide traction.
Cross-cuts: a crossing point where the elevation of the sidewalk meets the road
surface to provide access to crosswalks or accessible parking stalls.
Minor Storm: a weather system that is forecast to produce less than 10 cm of
snow (or precipitation mixture) in one continuous event as forecast.
Major Storm: a weather system that is forecast to produce more than 10 cm of
snow (or precipitation mixture) in one continuous event as forecast.
Forecast: Interpretation by staff of available forecasts, combining published
information from Environment Canada and other available resources such as
Municipal weather stations and the Emergency Management Office
appropriate Queens County communities.
Pre-wetting: the application of a liquid into the sand or salt at the time of
application.
Snow Plowing or Scraping: the use of equipment or devices to move (or
remove) snow from accumulating on a surface.
Passable Lane: Cleared roadway that may have an accumulation of snow or
slippery surfaces. May be limited to a single cleared lane on a local roadway.
Passable by typical vehicles equipped for winter conditions.
Travelled Lane: the travelled lane is the asphalt surface from the road centerline,
the width of the marked lane (multi-lane roadways) or the equivalent of a lane
width on a two-lane roadway.
Arterial Roadways: Major roadways within the community which connect vital
services (i.e.: access to Queens General Hospital from Highway 103). Typically
defined as a high-capacity urban road that serves to accept traffic from
collector roads and as a primary route for local traffic. (Schedule B).
Collector Roadways: Roadways that connect local roadways to the main
arterial roadways. (Schedule B).
Local Roadways: The remainder of the roadways within the community that
feed into the collector roadways, typically comprised entirely of residential
properties with low volumes. These do not include lanes or private property
(Schedule B).
Department of Infrastructure Contact: Telephone: 902-354-7170. Available 24
hours a day, 7 days per week, providing a public point of contact to the Public
Works Division.
PRIORITY
Priority for winter maintenance shall be as follows:
1. Arterial Roads and sidewalks providing selective access to the following
facilities:
- Public Works Garage
- Hillsview Acres Home for Special Care
- Municipal Services Building (including Ancillary Building)
- Municipal Administration Building
- Liverpool Business Development Centre
- Queens Place Emera Centre
- Queens Waste Management Facility
2. Collector Roads and Sidewalks, selective Downtown Parking, including:
- Waterfront Parking Lot
- Main St. parking between Legion St. and Carten St.
3. Local Roads and Sidewalks, increasing access to stalls in parking lots
4. Deferred Locations:
- Municipal Waste Collection Sites ("Grey Boxes"),
- Dry Hydrants,
- Pine Grove Park,
- Ground Search & Rescue,
- Town Hall Arts & Cultural Centre
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Notwithstanding the above, the Director of Infrastructure (or designate), in
response to a developing emergency, may deviate from the priority
arrangement presented above to improve emergency response by other
agencies. For example, the Director may reallocate resources working on Priority
Level 1 to provide winter maintenance at a Dry Hydrant (Priority Level 4) at the
request of first responders before resuming Priority Level 1 efforts.
LEVELS OF SERVICE
This Policy is in effect from December 1 to March 31. Winter maintenance
outside of this time frame will be conducted based on resource availability,
which may vary from the policy and procedures outlined.
The objective of winter maintenance is to promote access for motorists and
pedestrians throughout the community by exposing a travel lane (or bi-
directional lanes on arterial roadways). Priority will be provided to emergency
vehicles and first responders. During a minor or major event, the goal will be to
create passable lanes based on the rate and accumulation of precipitation
during the event.
Regular application of anti-icing materials will be used as preventative measures
to control the development of ice and/or frost and provide a barrier between
the surface and accumulation. The anti-icing materials will be applied following
the Priority Listing.
De-icing will be applied once the bare asphalt begins to show, allowing for
melt-off and preventing re-freezing. Snow-packed travel ways will be treated
with de-icing materials to provide traction, particularly when temperatures
aren't favourable for other de-icing agents such as salt to be effective.
Service levels for a minor storm event will focus on anti-icing streets and
intersections, with plowing of the streets as a secondary goal based on the rate
of accumulation. The approach for a major storm will be to shift the focus to
plowing operations, followed by anti-icing operations or a combination of
plowing with anti-icing along Priority 1 assets. Winter storm events vary in
duration, intensity and potential accumulation. These factors will be considered
in resource deployment as a response. Focus will continue, in most cases, on the
first and second priority until the end of the storm event. This will result in a limited
number of residential roads being plowed prior to the end of the event.
Regular inspection of Priority 1 and Priority 2 assets during a snow event will be a
proactive measure to ensure resources can be redirected back to those routes
if conditions worsen. This will be done by or under the direction of the Manager
of Public Works (or designate) and will be scheduled based on existing
conditions and short-term forecasting.
Priority 3 assets shall commence once Priority Level 1 and Priority Level 2 assets
have been completed, or as resources permit.
Schedule A provides the level of service expected at each asset during and at
regular intervals following the conclusion of a typical winter weather event.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy shall take effect from the date of approval by Council.
VERSION LOG
Version
Number
Amendment
Description
Amendment/Policy
Owner
Approved
By
Approval
Date
1.0
Creation of Policy
Director of
Infrastructure
Council
OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT this policy was passed by the Council of Region of
Queens Municipality at a duly constituted meeting of said Council held on the
9th day of December 2025. SIGNED by the Mayor and Municipal Clerk this
12th day of December 2025.
_______________________________________
Mayor
________________________________________
Municipal Clerk
2025-12-09
SCHEDULE A
Asset
ACTIVE STORM
POST STORM
6-Hours
12-Hours
48-Hours
Arterial Roads
Anti-icing may be applied before
the storm.
Both lanes are actively maintained
but may be snow-covered.
Anti-icing is applied at steep
grades (more than 7%) and arterial
intersections.
Both lanes are plowed;
bare asphalt may be
showing.
Both lanes are cleared to
bare asphalt.
Collector Roads
Anti-icing may be applied before
the storm.
A single access lane is cleared at
regular intervals to provide access
to arterial roads.
Anti-icing is applied at steep (more
than 7%) grades and intersections.
Both lanes have been
plowed but remain
snow-packed.
Both lanes are cleared,
bare asphalt may be
showing
Both lanes are cleared to
bare asphalt
Local Roads
Anti-icing may be applied before
the storm.
Both lanes have been
serviced, but remain
snow-packed.
De-icing material may
be applied.
Both lanes are cleared,
with some bare asphalt
showing.
Arterial
Sidewalks
Anti-icing may be applied before
the storm.
A minimum of 1.0m of sidewalk is
maintained as well as cross-cuts.
The surface may be snow-covered
and cross-cuts snow-packed.
Anti-icing is applied at steep
grades (7%) and intersections.
A minimum of 1.2m of
sidewalk is maintained,
as well as cross-cuts.
Surface plowed, with
some bare sidewalk
showing and snow-
covered crosscuts.
Full width of sidewalk is
plowed (less street
windrow), as well as
cross-cuts. Surface is,
and cross-cuts are bare.
SCHEDULE A (continued)
Collector
Sidewalks
Anti-icing may be applied before
the storm.
Typically snow-packed.
A minimum of 1.0m of
sidewalk is maintained as
well as cross-cuts. The
surface may be snow-
covered and cross-cuts
snow-packed.
A minimum of 1.2m of
sidewalk is maintained,
as well as cross-cuts.
Surface generally
cleared, with some bare
sidewalk showing and
snow-covered crosscuts.
Full width of sidewalk is
maintained, as well as
cross-cuts. Surface is,
and crosscuts are bare.
Local Sidewalks
Anti-icing is applied before the
storm.
Generally, snow-packed.
Generally, snow-packed.
A minimum of 1.2m of
sidewalk is maintained as
well as cross-cuts. The
surface may be snow-
covered and cross-cuts
snow-packed.
Full width of sidewalk is
maintained, as well as
cross-cuts. Surface
generally cleared, with
some bare sidewalk
showing and snow-
covered crosscuts.
Public Works
Garage
(including Hank
Snow Drive)
Maintain access to entrances,
including garage bays, as well as
access to fuel pumps and de-icing
materials. Surfaces may be snow-
covered.
Access to entrances,
including garage bays,
and parking as well as
access to fuel pumps
and de-icing materials.
Surfaces are bare on
asphalt and snow
packed in gravel.
Access around sewer
lagoons
Hillsview Acres
As outlined in the current snow clearing and removal agreement
Municipal
Services
Building
Access to apparatus bays, the
ancillary building, as well as
parking stalls along Henry Hensey
Drive. Surfaces may be snow
covered.
SCHEDULE A (continued)
Municipal
Administration
Building
The parking lot on the South side of
White Point Rd and the front
walkways should be serviced
regardless of office closure.
Surfaces may be snow covered.
All asphalt parking lots
are serviced, with some
bare asphalt showing. All
entrances and sidewalks
cleared with some bare
surfacing.
All asphalt parking lots
are serviced, with some
bare asphalt showing.
Gravel parking lot is snow
packed. All entrances
and sidewalks cleared
with some bare
surfacing.
Liverpool
Business
Development
Centre
Priority parking sections as
identified in Schedule B to be
plowed, and entrances and exits
to be maintained to allow egress.
Surfaces will be snow-covered.
Priority parking section
(Schedule B) are
serviced, with some bare
asphalt showing. All
entrances and sidewalks
cleared with some bare
surfacing.
Entire parking lot is
serviced, with some bare
asphalt showing. All
entrances and sidewalks
cleared with some bare
surfacing.
Queens Place
Emera Centre
Priority parking sections as
identified in Schedule B to be
plowed, and entrances and exits
to be maintained to allow egress.
Surfaces will be snow-covered.
Priority parking section
(Schedule B) are
serviced, with some bare
asphalt showing. All
entrances and sidewalks
cleared with some bare
surfacing.
Entire parking lot is
serviced, with some bare
asphalt showing. All
entrances and sidewalks
cleared with some bare
surfacing.
Ground Search
& Rescue
Priority parking sections as
identified in Schedule B to be
plowed. Surfaces will be snow-
covered.
Priority parking section
(Schedule B) are
serviced and remain
snow covered.
Entire parking lot are
serviced but may remain
snow packed.
Town Hall Arts &
Cultural Centre
Front sidewalk to be serviced.
Surface will be snow covered.
Front sidewalk to be
cleared with some bare
surfacing. Entrances and
exits to be cleared
during RQM regular
business hours. Parking
lot cleared but snow
covered.
The entire parking lot is
serviced, with some bare
asphalt showing. All
entrances and sidewalks
cleared to bare surface.
SCHEDULE A (continued)
Downtown
Parking
Priority parking sections, as
identified in Schedule B to be
plowed. Surfaces will be snow-
covered.
The entire parking lot is
serviced, with some bare
asphalt showing.
Queens Waste
Management
Facility
Parking near the maintenance
garage is cleared, as well as the
main road and scales, public drop
off and leachate pond. Surfaces
will be snow-covered.
Parking near the
maintenance garage is
cleared, as well as the
main road and scales,
public drop off and
leachate pond. Gravel
surfaces will be snow-
packed.
Pine Grove Park
Parking area at Milton Rd
plowed. Gravel surfaces
will be snow-packed.
Community
Waste
Collection Sites
('Grey Boxes')
Access to bins cleared.
Surface may be snow-
covered or snow-
packed. Apply traction
Dry Hydrants
Access road and turning
point cleared around the
hydrant head. Surface
may be snow-covered or
snow-packed.
Respond promptly upon
request of local fire
department as a result of
their urgent need.