Snow Plow Tracker
The Plow Tracker map is offline until winter
This is where the live Snow Plow Tracker map appears during the winter plowing season. Once our Public Works crews start plowing this winter, the map will be back online, and we’ll let you know on our Facebook page.
In the meantime, read on to see how the tracker works and how we clear the emergency routes.
What does the Plow Tracker show me?
The Plow Tracker shows a history trail for Public Works vehicles as they spread (de-icing and anti-icing) and plow. Each vehicle leaves a green trail (spreading and plowing) or a grey trail (spreading only) as it works. A vehicle that is parked, or moving at under 5 km/h, won’t show up on the map.
You can look back over the last 1 to 6 hours, or the last 24 hours, by choosing an interval below the map. The legend button lets you highlight the City’s designated emergency routes in red.
The tracker follows the three City-operated plows dedicated to the emergency routes, with a delay of about two minutes. Two of the three are usually out during a storm, with the third on standby. The rest of the city’s routes are cleared by City crews and local contractors (see the questions below), and those trucks are not tracked on the map.
Want the full picture on how we clear snow? Read about the City’s Snow Removal Operations.
Frequently asked questions: emergency snow routes
What are the emergency snow routes, and how are they structured?
Emergency routes are the main arteries identified as critical for emergency vehicles to reach every sector of the city. Their level of service is “bare full width at all times”, so you can expect them to be safely drivable at all times, except during precipitation of more than 1 cm per hour or freezing rain. The emergency routes are made up of two runs totalling 70 km: the West run is 34 km, and the Town, South and East run is 36 km. The Plow Tracker map is dedicated to these emergency routes only.
When does maintenance on the emergency routes begin?
Right away. Crews start on the emergency routes as soon as a weather event begins, or whenever conditions become a hazard for traffic.
How long does it take to complete both emergency route runs?
About four hours for both runs together, though it varies with the job at hand. Plowing streets takes longer than salting for slippery conditions.
Are plow trucks restricted to the emergency routes?
No. You may see them plowing outside the emergency routes, dealing with drifting snow, icy hills and intersections as needed.
How many plow trucks does the City use, and are they all out at once?
Three plow trucks cover the emergency routes. One of them is usually kept as a backup in case of a breakdown or an emergency.
How is the rest of the city cleared?
The rest of Bathurst is divided into eight quadrants, and clearing begins once 8 cm of snow has accumulated. Three of the eight runs are handled by City of Bathurst crews; the other five are contracted out to local service providers.
The information on this page comes from an automated vehicle location system and is provided as a public service by the City of Bathurst. The City cannot guarantee the real-time accuracy of all the information. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and completeness, the City does not warrant the integrity of the information provided.