Winter Sidewalk & Pathway Maintenance
Step 1: First Pass
After a snowfall, our crews head out to complete a first pass on all sidewalks and pathways. This means creating one clear, straight walking path through the snow so people can safely get where they need to go as soon as possible.
Depending on snowfall amounts, this first pass can take a couple of days to complete across town.
Step 2: Widening
Once a first pass is completed, crews return to widen pathways and trails.
Widening means pushing snow completely off the path, not just flattening it.
You might notice us “plowing the grass” — and that’s actually intentional!
Why?
- It allows more people to comfortably use the path at once
- It reduces how much snow melts onto the pathway
- It helps keep pathways safer for longer, especially during freeze-thaw cycles
Step 3: Sanding & Salting (as time and resources allow)
While our new sidewalk clearing equipment (the Multihog) is out, it is sanding and salting everywhere it goes. Almost every day throughout the winter season, crews are working to improve traction on sidewalks and trails.
We use a mix of rock chips and minimal salt to balance safety with care for people, pets, and the environment.
Step 4: Scraping to Pavement
When the weather cooperates — warmer days and the right conditions — we can bring our machines back out to scrape sidewalks and trails down to pavement.
This step depends heavily on weather, timing, and available resources, but when it works, it can make a big difference in improving walking conditions.
Why Winter Weather Is Tricky
Warm days followed by cold nights (hello, Chinooks!) can undo a lot of hard work quickly. Melting during the day and refreezing overnight can create icy conditions even on recently cleared paths. Our crews do their best to stay ahead of this, but conditions can change fast.
What Gets Cleared First?
Sidewalks and pathways are maintained using a priority system, focusing first on high-traffic routes, schools, and main connectors.
You can learn more about winter sidewalk and trail priorities
See an Icy Spot? Let Us Know
We truly appreciate everyone keeping an eye out. If you notice a particularly icy area or a spot that needs attention, please submit it through Report a Problem so we can respond as quickly as possible.Thank you for your patience, your feedback, and for helping us take care of more than 20 km of sidewalks, trails, and pathways throughout the winter. Our goal is the same as yours — safe, accessible routes for everyone.
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Contact Us
Town of Olds
3501 70 Avenue
Olds, Alberta, Canada
T4H 1L7
Phone: 403-556-6981
Email: admin@olds.ca
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