Municipal Mini - Snow Plowing in Olds: How Priorities Work (and Why Your Street May Not Be Cleared Yet)

We know it can be frustrating when your street isn’t plowed. Snow clearing in Olds follows a structured priority system and not every snowfall triggers a full town-wide plow. Here’s how it works:

Our Priority Routes

Olds uses a colour-coded priority map. Crews work through routes in this order:

• Purple routes (Uptowne area): Top priority. Cleared first to keep the core business area open and safe.
• Red routes: Emergency routes, school zones, and major collector roads.
• Yellow routes: Secondary collectors that connect neighbourhoods.
• Green routes: Residential streets.

To see the routes, visit the Town of Olds Winter Maintenance Map. Then select the "Winter Maintenance" tab at the top of the webpage.

Activation Levels Matter

Not every snowfall meets the threshold for a full activation. Snow plowing depends on snow depth, ice buildup, weather forecasts, and safety conditions. If conditions don’t meet the threshold, only higher-priority routes (Purple, Red, and sometimes Yellow) are cleared.

View the Activation Levels here.

Why Your Street May Not Be Done Yet

• Crews must keep higher-priority routes safe and passable first.
• If snow continues falling while plows are out, they must restart on Purple and Red routes before moving down the list.
• Residential areas (Green routes) are cleared only when the activation level is met and resources allow.
• Deep snow, drifting, or ice buildup can require multiple passes in some areas.

What We Focus On

The top priority for our crews is to plow as much as possible and sand key intersections and hills for traction and safety. They often begin before sunrise, so even if you don’t see them, they’re out there keeping roads clear.

Want to Know Where Crews Are Working?

Check the Winter Maintenance Map on our Public GIS website to see which colour your road falls under.
You can also sign up for Voyent Alert! to get notifications when winter maintenance is underway in your area.

Have a Concern?

If you notice an area that appears to be missed or poses a hazard, please report it through our Report a Problem form.