We have had a week, Ottawa! Two weather advisories, a snow squall warning, cold temperatures, wind and snow, but that’s no match for the Roads and Parking Services team! They have been working nonstop and will keep going until the entire transportation network has been treated and cleared. Environment Canada has lifted the Weather Advisory and Snow Squall Warning for the Ottawa region.
Ottawa received approximately 10 centimetres and up to 15 centimetres in localized areas. Flurries ended this morning, and the wind will be 30 kilometres per hour gusting to 50, causing significant blowing and drifting snow in open areas. A daytime high of minus 4 is forecasted and an overnight low of minus 14. Due to localized blowing and drifting snow, the transportation network remains slippery and, in some areas, snow-covered. Residents are reminded to exercise caution when out walking, driving, and cycling.
Crews will continue to treat sidewalks, arterial roads, and the winter cycling network. The team moved into residential neighbourhoods this morning and will continue through the evening to treat and clear streets. The nightshift will pick up where the dayshift left off and they will focus on cleaning up any problem areas such as bus stops, crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian islands, corners and cul de sacs. Some areas of the region will experience significant blowing and drifting snow, which makes it difficult for operators to navigate. Please be patient, as it will take time to get through the transportation network, but rest assured, they will be hard at work.
- You can support their operations by finding off-street parking options. If you can, please ask a friend or neighbour to share their laneway. When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway.
Snowbank removal operations
My office has been advised that snowbank removal operations are scheduled to begin in the urban core, which includes Ward 13, the evening of Sunday, Feb. 9, once snowplowing operations have concluded following the snow we received this week. Snowbank removal schedules featuring Ward 13 streets will be posted on my website and on my Facebook page once these details become available.
Snowbanks on the City’s transportation network are removed or reduced in size when they begin to restrict sightlines, travel widths, or pedestrian, vehicular, and cycling traffic. Residents are responsible for snowbanks along their private driveway. Snowbank removal operations come secondary to standard snow clearing operations (i.e., when there is a storm, and teams must plow and/or treat roads). If snowbank removal operations are underway and a storm begins or is approaching, teams may temporarily be redeployed to respond to the changing conditions. Snowbank removal operations will resume once clearing and/or treating is complete.
What to expect: Before snowbank removal operations begin, signs will be posted in the snowbanks of streets where operations are scheduled to take place. Parking is prohibited in areas where snow bank removal is taking place and drivers are required to abide by posted signage. Parking permit holders are not exempt from snow removal operations. Failure to remove a vehicle from a zone where temporary no stopping signs are posted will result in a ticket, and the vehicle will be towed to a nearby street.
**Please note: the removal schedule can change due to evolving operational demands and weather challenges, and you may see signs go up and come down if the schedule needs to be adjusted.
