An incident that saw a vehicle jump the guard rail on a Saskatoon bridge and land on the river below has prompted a change to the city’s snow clearing priorities.

The city says a new plan is being implemented immediately that will see snow cleared from bridges and overpasses as soon as possible following a snow fall. City crews previously waited until the snow approached the height of the barrier before removing it.

Last week a car lost control on the Circle Drive North Bridge and went over the guard rail and into the river. The female driver escaped the vehicle before it sank and was able to make her way to the riverbank on the ice with the help of bystanders.

Police say a buildup of ice and snow along the edge of the bridge guard rails contributed to the vehicle leaving the road.

How much the new snow removal plan will cost is still yet to be determined but Jeff Jorgenson, the city’s manager of transportation and utilities, says ensuring the safety of drivers is top priority.