Snow removal operations are underway.
With the 24 centimetres of snow that just blanketed the city, the Roads and Parking Services team is preparing for snow removal operations throughout the City. The focus will be where snow banks have significantly increased on our arterial roads and collectors, business districts, narrow streets as well as some cul de sacs and dead ends where the snow has piled up.
Snow removal is a planned event that requires us to physically remove snow from the side of the road and transport it to one of our snow storage facilities. Snow removal is different than snow clearing, which occurs as snow is falling or immediately after a snowfall, to move the snow from the roadway to the side of the road or to the City’s right of way.
In some communities, we are able to cast the snow from the roadway onto the City’s right of way and store it there. This is a safe operation which allows us to open roads without hauling snow away. Residents will know casting is taking place when they see the large blowers blowing snow off roads and sidewalks and onto City greenspace. Following our snow removal operations, a sidewalk machine is deployed to clear and treat the sidewalks in the area to ensure it remains safe for travel.
Over the weekend and ahead of snow removal operations, residents can expect to see our teams out in the community placing temporary ‘No Parking’ signs in snowbanks along the side of the roadway to prepare for snow removal. Snow removal operations will begin Sunday evening on our arterial and collector roads and within our business districts. Residents will know it is taking place when they see temporary no parking signage in their community, and/or line-ups of large trucks with snow being blown into the boxes.
While we are engaged in snow removal activities, residents are asked to observe the posted signage and to remove their vehicles from the roadway as per the signage - this includes vehicles with residential parking permits. Failing to do so may result in your vehicle being towed. Towed vehicles are relocated to an adjacent street where snow removal is not scheduled that day or has already been completed. Residents may call 3-1-1 for assistance in locating their vehicle.
While the operations are really exciting to watch, we do ask that all residents, and especially children, give the vehicles space to do their work. Please stay a safe distance back.
Next Steps
This has been a busy time for the Roads and Parking Services team and the work continues to ensure the transportation network keeps Ottawa moving.
Thank you for continuing to support our winter operations.
