Manitobans can now better prepare for their winter commutes

That’s because the Government of Manitoba has launched a new live-tracking app for smartphones that allows people to see where active snowplows are located and where they’ve been for the last two hours. 

“Manitobans know that winter storms are a part of our lives and the new Track My Plow app will help Manitobans plan their winter commutes without having to even look out the window,” said Lisa Naylor, the province’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a release.

 “Track My Plow will not only save drivers time but will help improve the safety of Manitoba’s roads during winter. I’d like to thank our snowplow operators, who are out in all sorts of weather to clear our highways, for their hard work.”

Those responsible for municipal snow-clearing efforts say they too are gearing up for the winter rush of snow.

“Driving through winter can be challenging especially in the transition time when you move from summer driving to wintertime,” said Michael Cantor, the City of Winnipeg’s Manager of Street Maintenance, stressing the importance of road safety.

“Not everybody is switching to winter tires and some people continue to go even though they’re trying to brake, so we need to make sure we’re doing the right thing but look for the public around you.”

The new information feature hopes to offer Manitoba motorists insight as they navigate nasty winter conditions, showing when roads have been cleared, which ones are being worked on and which ones are closed. 

Cantor explained the municipal snow-clearing contingent needed for a city-wide clearing is made up of about 300 pieces of heavy equipment working at a time, with the city spending between $30 to $40 million annually on snow removal and ice control.  

“We keep plowing whether we meet the budget or not, we provide this core service, we need to make sure Winnipeggers are safe to use our facilities; streets, sidewalks and pathways,” said Cantor. 

Friday also saw the City of Winnipeg advising the public the city’s winer routes will be in effect as of Dec. 6, which means no overnight parking on designated streets between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. 

Residents are encouraged to download the “Know Your Zone” app or they might be hit with a $100 ticket for parking in the restricted zones, or even have their vehicle towed. Cantor says with much more snow expected, it’s important people respect the ban. 

“These routes are being used by emergency services and most of the traffic in the city, so we want to make sure all of the lanes are properly treated and safe to drive on,” he said