We maintain 202km of road to reduce the hazards of ice and snow conditions for motorists and pedestrians. Our Public Works crews rely on 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.
Report Snow or Ice Concerns
If you have concerns about snow or ice conditions in your area, please report it. Please provide as many details as possible, including the exact address or detailed location description. Please note that the City follows a snow removal priority system. We appreciate your patience and will address your concern as soon as possible.
With winter storms expected this season, the City is ready to respond to adverse weather conditions and is reminding residents to take necessary precautions to stay safe and prepared for snow, heavy rain, wind, and potential power outages.
The City is among the first municipalities in Canada to introduce an innovative Snowplow Tracker, powered by a uniquely designed telematics system for winter operations. This advanced technology optimizes performance during winter storms and provides valuable data to improve operational efficiency.
Port Coquitlam was one of the first cities in BC 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
