HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlowing County Roads
183037 RR145 (Box 130), Brooks, AB T1R 1B2 Check us out on social media
Phone: 403-362-3266
Fax: 888-361-7921
Email: administration@newellmail.ca
Web: www.countyofnewell.ab.ca
Have you ever wondered when will the plows get to your road within the County?
The County is responsible for plowing paved roads and gravel roads. Each road surface type requires different equipment
for maintenance. 4 Plow trucks are used to maintain 230 kilometers of paved road surfaces while 8 graders are used to
maintain 1450 kilometers of gravel surfaces.
Paved roads are plowed at least once within 12 hours of a snow event. Once all the paved roads are plowed, crews will
then monitor the roads to ensure they remain passable and safe for motorists. Winging back the shoulders of the roads
takes place once an event is over and conditions permit.
Please keep in mind that all numbered paved roadways are Provincial responsibility. The "1 - 216" series of numbered
provincial highways, formerly known as primary highways, makes up Alberta's core highway network. Highways within
this series typically have the highest traffic volume and are mostly paved. The "500 - 986" series of numbered provincial
highways provide more local access and include a higher proportion of gravel highways. Provincial highways within the
County are cared for by Volker Stevin, this includes but is not limited to HWY 542 (Cassils Road), HWY 873 south (the Lake
Road), HWY 873 north (Duchess Highway) and HWY 875 (Rolling Hills Highway).
Gravel roads are plowed at least once within 3 days of a snow event. Grader operators can plow 60-80 kilometers of gravel
road in a day, depending on the accumulation and the hours worked. Large accumulations of snow slow progress and take
operators longer to address. After the initial plowing to open roads grader operators will make a second round, like plow
truck operators, winging back the road shoulders creating necessary snow storage for future snow events.
For your safety and the safety of others please leave operators room to work. Maintain a safe following distance behind
the snowplow and graders. Most maintenance vehicles will have a sign at the rear to let motorists snow the minimum
safe following distance. Keeping this distance will give you more time to react to the unexpected and avoid rock damage
to your vehicle from a snowplow’s sanding unit.