Snow Clearing

Plowing

When snow begins to accumulate, primary and secondary roads are cleared first to ensure that you, and emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances, can safely travel during or immediately after a snowfall.

Residential streets are plowed after snow accumulates in excess of 7.5 centimetres (3 inches). When all streets need plowing, they are to be cleared within 24 hours after the end of the storm. Heavy snowfalls or successive storms can sometimes extend this period longer than 24 hours.

Salting

Sand/salt trucks are dispatched at the start of a snowfall and at the first sign of roads beginning to ice.

Primary roads: Streets with the greatest volume of traffic, called primary roads, are salted or sanded first.

Secondary roads: Secondary roads that lead to primary roads are salted or sanded next.

Residential streets: Residential streets generally receive sand/salt treatment at intersections, hills and sharp curves.

Sidewalks

Sidewalks are cleared only after snow accumulates in excess of five centimetres, and only after roads are cleared. Sidewalks located on primary and secondary roads with schools are plowed first, followed by residential sidewalks.

Sidewalk salting and sanding is done only on primary and secondary sidewalks when extremely slippery conditions exist.