Although we have be fortunate to not experienced any significant winter weather so far there is still time. I would like to take this opportunity to share with residents some information about City of Ottawa winter operations and how Public Works prioritizes clearing snow from our streets and sidewalks..
Snow clearing is done using a road-priority system, with high-use, emergency and transit routes cleared first:
At the start of accumulation:
- Highway 174, the Transitway, major roads and arterials.
- After the last snowflake has fallen, these routes may take 2 to 4 hours to complete.
- 2.5 centimetres accumulation:
- Sidewalks in the downtown core and the winter cycling network
- After the last snowflake has fallen, these routes may take up to 4 hours to complete
- 5 centimetres accumulation:
- Secondary roads and minor collectors such as Wall Road, Dovercourt Avenue, Donald Street, Springbrook Drive, etc.
- After the last snowflake has fallen, these routes may take up to 6 hours to complete
- 5 centimetres accumulation:
- Residential sidewalks
- After the last snowflake has fallen, these routes may take 12 to 16 hours to complete
- 7 or more centimetres of accumulation
- Residential roads and lanes such as Billings Bridge, Waverley Street, Smith Road, etc.
- After the last snowflake has fallen, these routes may take 10 to 16 hours to complete.
Timelines are suspended if a Significant Weather Event is declared as operations will be carried out based on the capacity of resources in as continuous a manner as practicable.
Thanks to all of our city winter maintenance crews who work many hours throughout the season to help keep our roads and pathways maintained. I invite residents to watch this video about one of the City’s operators who has been clearing snow for over 20 years.
