Each winter, the Engineering & Public Works Department maintains 202 km of road to reduce the hazards of ice and snow conditions for motorists and pedestrians. The start of icy morning roads mobilizes the snow and ice removal crews, which hit the streets with de-icing solution (see below).

Public Works relies on a combination of weather forecasts, automated in-pavement temperature and moisture sensors, and visual inspections to activate the City’s snow and ice-removal program. The first response is with brine trucks, which deposit a de-icing water-salt solution that sticks to the roads better and is more environmentally-friendly than dry salt.

• five large dumptrucks with sanders and ploughs,
• three single-axle trucks that plough and apply brine or sand
• one grader
• two backhoes
• one front-end loader

Report Snow or Ice Concerns

Click on the “Report” button below. Provide as much detail as possible and the exact address or location description. Please note that while snow is falling or until the primary roads are cleared, the City will not be addressing local roads or lanes.

Snow Removal Priorities

​Click here to view a larger map.

Third Priority

• Residential streets leading to subdivisions
• Industrial side streets

Ice Control Road Sensor System

The City of Port Coquitlam was one of the first cities in British Columbia to implement a pavement temperature road sensor system. The sensors are implanted within the road pavement structure to measure asphalt surface temperatures and moisture. Data is monitored by a centralized telemetry system programmed to alert staff of emergent changes to road conditions. City crews are dispatched to apply de-icing solution or plow city roadways as is necessary to improve road conditions.

Anti-Icing Program

As part of the City’s “Anti-Icing” ice control program, crews apply a liquid de-icing solution instead of salt particulate to minimize the amount of salt used and to improve adhesion of the salt to the road’s surface.

The ice-control road sensor system and the anti-icing program have provided overall improvements to snow clearing efficiency, while reducing costs and environmental impacts to the community.

Sidewalk Clearing

Port Coquitlam property owners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks free of snow and ice adjacent to their properties. Property owners must also have their sidewalks cleaned within 24 hours after it stops snowing.

When shoveling your driveway, please pile the snow on the left side of the driveway (facing your property). This will improve your visibility of approaching traffic and will reduce snow windrows resulting from plow trucks dragging your snow pile back into your driveway.

The City clears sidewalks adjacent to parks, bridges and other city-owned properties.

Sand and Salt

The City uses salt, salt/sand mix and straight sand to reduce ice formation on city roadways. Salt is a fast-acting and effective chemical.

The City attempts to minimize the use of salt and sand on roadways to lessen the impacts upon the environment.  The application rates of salt and salt/sand mixes are based on temperature, road conditions, weather forecasts and snowfall rates.

Waste collection in the snow

The City will collect garbage first when the temperatures drop. If roads are hazardous due to snow and ice, the city may temporarily cancel waste collection. If this occurs, notifications will be posted on the PoCo waste-line App downloadable at portcoquitlam.ca/wasteline, on the City’s social media channels and on this page. Crews will begin collecting waste in missed zones after completing the regularly scheduled zone the next day. It may take several days to complete collection for missed zones.

Location and Mailing Address

Public Works
1737 Broadway Street
Port Coquitlam BC  V3C 2M9

7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays)