Transportation and Public Works

Winter Operations

Annual Winter Operations across the province's highways involve salting, sanding and snow removal. Work can also include temporary patching of paved roads, water drainage and washout repairs, as well as any maintenance activities required to keep our highway system as safe as possible for the motoring public.

Provincial Snow Removal Operations

Snow removal operations are carried out by both Private Contractors as well as Government owned and operated equipment. In 2003, the Department entered into a 3 year contract with 25 private snow removal contractors across the province.

To find out the name of the contractor responsible for plowing operations in your area, use our Navigational Map of Snow Removal services for Prince Edward Island. If your road is not identified on the snow removals contractor's map, you can contact the Dispatch Office for the Highway Maintenance Division in your county. Dispatch staff will be able to give callers information on current road conditions for their area as well as information regarding snow removal operations.

If you are calling to inquire when your road will be plowed, please keep in mind that during winter storms or adverse weather conditions, personnel answering calls at a Dispatch Office can be very busy.

In the event you are connected to the Dispatch Office's voice message center, please leave a clear, detailed message including the name of your community, the road about which you are calling, as well as a phone number where staff can return your call.

Provincial Ice Control (Sanding and Salting)

On the Province's primary/arterial highways, Salt (Sodium Chloride) is used as a means to control ice and roadway surface traction.

On the secondary roads, the Department uses a sand mixture of 64% local Sand, 30% imported grit and 6% sodium chloride.

The Department tracks both sand and salt usage on an annual basis and takes all attainable steps to ensure these materials are spread to achieve the best results and that the environment experiences the least impact as possible. While the Department continues to recognize and monitor the effects its usage can have on the environment, salt continues to be a very effective method of controlling ice.

If you have a question regarding Salting and Sanding operations in your area, please contact the Dispatch Office at the Highway Maintenance Division in your county.