The City of Colwood Public Works team plays a vital role in keeping our city safe, beautiful and running efficiently by maintaining the community’s parks, roads, sidewalks, sewers, storm drains, and City owned buildings.
If you come across a safety issue with a City road, sidewalk, trail, washroom, drainage system or other infrastructure, please let us know using the Action Request form.
Public Works Service Areas
The City of Colwood provides a unique and convenient Branch Drop Off Program free for Colwood residents.
This program helps keep the yards in our city looking tidy and healthy while diverting materials from the landfill. It also replaces backyard burning, which improves our air quality, protects our natural environment, and creates a healthier community.
The Public Works Yard is open for branch drop off on the first and third Saturday of December, January (*cancelled Jan 20 due to snow) and February from 8:30am to 4:00pm (and then every Saturday from March through November). Our location is just below City Hall at 3300 Wishart Road.
Acceptable material includes branches (maximum diameter 4”), grass clippings and leaves. When preparing your load to bring to the yard, it would be appreciated if you could separate leaves from branches and grass clippings.
2024 Drop Off Dates - Every Saturday March through November, First & Third Saturdays December through February
- JANUARY 6 and 20
- FEBRUARY 3 and 17
- MARCH 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
- APRIL 6, 13, 20, and 27
- MAY 4, 11, 18, and 25
- JUNE 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
- JULY 6, 13, 20, and 27
- AUGUST 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31
- SEPTEMBER 7, 14, 21, and 28
- OCTOBER 5, 12, 19, and 26
- NOVEMBER 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
- DECEMBER 7 and 21
Does your material include invasive species? Some invasives must be taken to Hartland Landfill to ensure safe disposal. At the Branch Drop Off we CAN ACCEPT: Scotch Broom, English Ivy, English Holly, Himalayan Blackberry, English Hawthorn and Periwinkle. Learn more at Colwood.ca/InvasiveSpecies.
For further information please contact the Public Works Yard Office at 250-474-4133.
Please note: This popular program is for Colwood residents only, and is free of charge. Proof of residency may be required at the gate. Private contractors who are working for a Colwood resident will be required to have a note/letter from the Colwood resident indicating the residents name, address, phone number and how many truck loads of debris are expected to be dropped off from this residence during the day. This note should be presented to the attendant at the gate.
The City of Colwood Public Works team is all geared up for winter ice and snow removal...but we need your help!
We need to work together as a community during winter icy and snowy conditions to keep streets and sidewalks clear and safe, and keep people, goods, and services moving.
Ice removal: When the weather drops below zero, the Colwood public works team gets busy applying a brine solution to keep roads clear of ice. The solution is 23.3% salt which is considered optimum for our west coast conditions (Winnipeg uses 100% salt). Because the brine solution can last for up to 5 days on the road surface, it is often applied in advance of an icy night in the forecast. Getting the job done within working hours reduces the added cost of overtime work.
Parking: In the event of a snowfall, please do not park on the travelled portion of the roads. Snow plows need to be able to negotiate the roads and get them cleared as quickly as possible. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Vehicles parked contrary to traffic signage may need to be towed.
Cul-de-sacs: Vehicles parked on cul-de-sacs obstruct snow plows and will prevent those roads from being cleared.
Sidewalks: Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and footpaths adjacent to their property. Colwood crews tackle major sidewalk areas and transit stops as soon as they are able.
Private roads: Maintenance of private roads, including snow and ice removal, is the responsibility of the property owners. Please make arrangements to maintain private roadways and drainage systems.
A tip for driveway snow removal: Pile the snow to the right of your driveway (facing the road from your home) so that when the snow plow comes by, it does not push the snow back across your driveway entrance or private road access.
It takes a community: If you are able, please offer to help elderly or other neighbours who may need assistance with snow clearing.
Colwood roads are iced and cleared in the following order:
- Major roads
- Steep Hills
- Connectors, School and Playground zones
- Local streets
- Transit stops and sidewalks as soon as possible
Safe Driving Tips
Please avoid driving during extreme conditions. Use alternate transportation whenever possible. If you must drive, ensure your vehicle has good winter tires, carry chains, lower your speed and keep a safe distance from others. Find more winter driving tips from DriveBC .
Managing how stormwater flows through our community is one important way the Public Works team helps to:
- protect our environment;
- reduce flooding to protect people, property and the public drainage systems;
- support healthy creeks, streams and lagoon;
- extend the life of drainage infrastructure; and
- create a healthier, more sustainable community.
Managing stormwater around your property
Residents can help by monitoring nearby drains, catch basins, and gutters, and raking away any blockages.
Stormwater maintenance by the Public Works team
Colwood staff manage $85.1 million worth of storm infrastructure including 6 kilometers of drainage culverts, 25 kilometers of ditches, 35 kilometers of storm drainage pipe and 1300 catch basins.
Catch basins are inspected and flushed with a hydro-vac truck to ensure they are clear and functional. Work is also done to clear grass and brush to ensure unimpeded access to easements where manholes are located.
Storm mains are flushed and assessed using a CCTV camera to gather data and ensure the health of the system.
Open utility systems are maintained seasonally: ditches are mowed (but not beautified), culvert inlets and outlets are inspected and cleared, headwalls are repaired, and washed-out spillways are fixed as needed.
During significant winter rains, City employees actively monitor drainage infrastructure to keep systems in working order.
Protecting our sensitive creeks and streams
You can help support the protection of our watersheds by reducing the amount of water flow from your property and limiting pollutants.
When we’re not careful, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers can end up in Esquimalt Lagoon, harming fish and wildlife and causing bacterial contamination of marine shellfish. Oil and gasoline that contain toxic compounds are eventually flushed into the ocean by the rain, threatening marine life. Increased runoff causes habitat and stream erosion, murky water and unstable flows.
The Public Works team manages over 120 lane kilometers of paved roadways through regular inspection and maintenance.
Pavement assessments are performed to prioritize ongoing maintenance to extend the life of the City's road assets.
Approximately 26% of paved surface area is arterial, 35% is collector and 39% local.
Each year, paving of roadway is undertaken throughout the City to repair pavement failures and rectify seasonal pothole issues.
In addition, the Public Works team is responsible for the road-repair of third-party utility installations and the construction of water controls and extruded curbs.
Potholes are created when sub-surface water from rain and snow weakens the pavement, and heavy vehicle traffic causes it to crack. The City strives to repair potholes in a timely way. Colwood has a significant network of streets to maintain and a fixed number of crews and equipment to respond to requests for pothole repair.
Please note that municipalities are not typically liable for damage caused to vehicles by potholes or road hazards unless legal liability is either evident or established.
If your vehicle sustains damage, please contact the City at 250-478-5999 to provide the location of the pothole and record the date, time, and location of the incident. Take pictures of the damage and contact your vehicle collision insurer for repairs.
The Colwood Public Works team maintains road markings including crosswalks, intersections, directional arrows and stop-bars.
Annual painting of long lines on Colwood roadways generally takes place in June after winter weather and spring rains, followed by curbs and crosswalks in September as students go back to school. Timing is largely dependant upon the availability of the contractor who travels throughout many municipalities on the mainland and Vancouver Island to complete this work.
Maintaining the visibility of these lines is important for the safety of everyone in our community. We appreciate your patience while line painting is in process.
Road markings in Colwood conform to the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Manual of Standard Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings.
Crack sealing is an important road maintenance practice that extends the life of asphalt and delays the significant costs and disruption of road replacement.
Sealing cracks with an oil-based product prevents water from penetrating deep into the asphalt and creating potholes. Sand applied over sealed cracks is an important component of the crack sealing process for two reasons: it allows vehicles to drive over freshly sealed cracks without the oil product sticking to the vehicle tires; and it is necessary for proper bonding of the sealant to the crack. Once the sand and oil sealant have compacted into cracks—within about 24-48 hours—the residual sand is swept up.
We understand that traffic delays and sand on the roads are an inconvenience, and cyclists, scooter and motorcycle riders should use extra caution when sand may make the road slippery. We appreciate your patience and will work to complete the process as quickly as possible.
The City determines which streets are due to be resurfaced each year based on pavement conditions, pavement age and traffic volumes as well as other factors such as transit and bicycle routes, utility clearances and available budget.
- During road resurfacing, traffic delays can be expected, but single lane alternating traffic will be maintained at all times.
- Sign boards will be posted on major roads to advise commuters in advance of the expected dates for the work.
- Residents and businesses fronting the paving locations will receive written project notices.
- Paving is weather sensitive so schedules may change.
The City Parks team maintains public boulevards and, like most municipalities, relies on property owners to maintain the boulevard along their property. Read more on the Boulevards page.
If you would like to make changes to the City boulevard adjacent to your property, please get in touch with the Engineering Department. This may include adding plantings, removing a tree or enclosing a ditch.
We know that Colwood residents take pride in their yards and their neighbourhoods, and that cul-de-sacs are more than streets: they are places that provide opportunities for play and social connection, as well as beautiful plantings.
The City of Colwood is creating opportunities for neighbours to get involved in enhancing and caring for cul-de-sac gardens. With that in mind, we’ve created planting plans to beautify the cul-de-sacs in Colwood. For participating neighbours, we'll provide and install easy-care native plantings that add beauty and attract beneficial pollinator insects and birds.
- You and/or a group of neighbours complete the Application Form and send it to gbeauvillier@Colwood.ca to start the process.
- The Colwood Parks team will contact you to make arrangements and then prepare the cul-de-sac garden bed and plant it according to one of Colwood's cul-de-sac planting plans.
- The Parks team will provide participating neighbours with a brief orientation and a Checklist for the care and maintenance of the cul-de-sac garden.
- You and your neighbours spend a little time each week tending to the garden.
- The Checklist will include contact information for when questions arise about caring for the cul-de-sac garden.
- The Parks team will schedule annual visits to replenish the soil, assess plant health, and check in with you and your neighbours to assist as needed.
If you are interested, please complete this brief Application Form and send it to gbeauvillier@Colwood.ca.
Someone from the Parks team will be in touch to schedule a visit to speak with you and your neighbours about the program in more detail.
The City has created a feasibility study to assess the current state and future requirements of operations facilities at 3300 Wishart Road.
The feasibility study includes a current state analysis and a future needs assessment, and provides a functional concept plan that proposes a phased approach over several years.
Review the full City of Colwood Facility Feasibility Study.
Serving a growing City
Colwood's population is expected to grow by 2.5% per year. With growth comes increasing service requirements, both to maintain, repair, and construct new infrastructure, and to serve and protect the safety of people in our community.
Existing City facilities are at capacity and aging buildings will require investment. Action will be required to continue to deliver services.
Challenges
Some of the challenges identified with the current facility include:
- A single access road must currently accommodate City staff, Public Works operations, school traffic, and the public.
- For Branch Drop Off, the public must circulate through the operational area of the public works yard.
- Aging buildings will require significant investment to maintain.
- Temporary trailers with limited facilities are currently used to accommodate a growing labour force.
- Staff work spaces are spread across several buildings.
- Public works storage is spread throughout the yard in a mix of enclosed, covered and uncovered accommodations.
- Lack of adequate maintenance bay/workshop space to meet current needs.
The map below is a current overview of the site showing the proposed location of a relocated public works operations building.
Opportunities
- Optimize use of space on City Hall property.
- Right-size functional components to meet current and future operational needs.
- Streamline work flow, increase efficiency, and reduce space footprint by consolidating like functions and share resources.
- Provide efficient, covered storage solutions to protect materials and equipment.
- Incorporate accessible and inclusive design.
- Provide distinct Public Works circulation to separate industrial flow from general staff and public flow
- Consolidate public works functions currently dispersed in temporary and legacy structures into a purpose-built facility
- Provide modernized facilities to best support the City of Colwood's evolving needs
- Improve site circulation and access for greater efficiency and safety.
- Expand functional components in the northern and eastern sections of the site which are underutilized.
- Maintain a park-like public setting that supports partnerships such as community gardens, day cares and other community amenities.
The map below shows the first phase of proposed changes. The Facility Feasibility Study describes additional proposed phases over several years.
Next steps
Council has included this project in the City's Strategic Plan and 2024-2028 Financial Plan, and has directed staff to initiate the design phase of the project. To advance this work, the City will need to borrow funding, which comes with legislative requirements. Of the two options to enable borrowing, the Alternative Approval Process is the more cost effective option.
Learn more about the Alternate Approval Process.