Checked
Strathcona County urban snow clearing: thresholds, routes and parking
Strathcona County, Alberta, Canada
Urban snow clearing uses four priorities in Sherwood Park and the county’s listed urban-style service areas. Main roads have the earliest triggers; residential work starts at 7 cm of compacted snow.
Key information
Urban snow clearing uses four priorities in Sherwood Park and the county’s listed urban-style service areas. Main roads have the earliest triggers; residential work starts at 7 cm of compacted snow. New snow can send crews back to priority-one roads.
On this page
Plan your next step
| Task or feature | What to know |
|---|---|
| Priority 1 | 2-5 cm;12-hour target after accumulation stops |
| Priority 2 | 5-7 cm; after priority 1, with school-zone exception |
| Priority 3 | 15 cm; six days after priority 2 |
| Priority 4 | 7 cm compacted; ten-day target |
Sources: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Your options at a glance
- Know which service area applies
The urban system includes Sherwood Park, Ardrossan, Balmoral Heights, Fountain Creek Estates, Meadow Hawk and Sherwood Country Club Estates.
- Collector routes and residential streets
Priority-three collector snow routes have a 15 cm trigger and a six-day target after priority two.
- Ice control and road responsibility
Sand and salt are used on priorities one to three.
Sources: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Know which service area applies
The urban system includes Sherwood Park, Ardrossan, Balmoral Heights, Fountain Creek Estates, Meadow Hawk and Sherwood Country Club Estates. Rural grid and country-residential roads use a different schedule.
Priority one covers major thoroughfares and arterials, triggered at 2-5 cm, with a 12-hour target after accumulation ends. Priority two covers minor arterials and school drop zones at 5-7 cm, after priority one; drop-zone work can take 72 hours.
Sources: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Collector routes and residential streets
Priority-three collector snow routes have a 15 cm trigger and a six-day target after priority two. Priority-four residential streets trigger at 7 cm of compacted snow, with a ten-day target. These are not a single universal snowfall depth or a promise to clear every street in 12 hours.
Parking bans are used for scheduled priority-three and priority-four work. Watch the posted signs and move vehicles before the work. County snow-route and residential progress maps help identify the current phase.
Sources: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Ice control and road responsibility
Sand and salt are used on priorities one to three. Rock chips are used on residential priority-four roads and county parking lots. Salt use decreases as colder temperatures reduce its effectiveness.
Alberta maintains county highways, including Anthony Henday,16,21,14,824 and 630/Wye Road east of 21. Bus stops are cleared with sidewalks and trails, prioritizing arterial then collector stops. County-owned parking lots follow school drop-zone work after at least 5 cm snow. Call 780-417-7100 for county winter-maintenance questions.
Sources: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Useful questions and answers
Does the urban schedule apply only to Sherwood Park?
No. It also lists Ardrossan, Balmoral Heights, Fountain Creek Estates, Meadow Hawk and Sherwood Country Club Estates.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
What triggers priority-one clearing?
2-5 cm on major thoroughfares and arterials, with a 12-hour target after snow accumulation stops.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
What is priority two?
Minor arterials and school drop zones, triggered at 5-7 cm after priority-one work.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Do school drop zones have the same target?
The source allows 72 hours for school drop-zone clearing.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
When are collector snow routes triggered?
At 15 cm, with a six-day target after priority-two work.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
What triggers residential street clearing?
7 cm of compacted snow, with a ten-day target.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
What happens if more snow arrives?
Crews return to priority-one roads.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
When are parking restrictions used?
When priority-three snow-route or priority-four residential clearing is scheduled; follow the signs.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Who clears highways through the county?
The Province of Alberta, including the specifically listed highways and Wye Road east of Highway 21.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Who handles county snow-service questions?
Transportation Engineering and Operations at 780-417-7100 or County Connect.
Source: Urban snow clearing and ice control | Strathcona County
Official information and next steps
Facts checked on October 14, 2026. Seasonal conditions and available appointments can change.