Typically during November or December, the City of Mississauga will experience its first major snowfall of the season. Every year, the City and its residents face the same challenge of dealing with snow clearing and getting through the winter season.
The City of Mississauga establishes snow clearing standards taking into consideration public safety and budget availability. It is important to note that levels of snow clearing service differ from municipality to municipality.
When snow is forecasted . . .
The City’s Transportation and Works Department begins coordinating its crews and more than 200 pieces of equipment such as snow plows, salt/sand spreaders. We clear over 5,500 lane km (3,430 miles) of roads and 1,260 km (777 miles) of sidewalks.
Mississauga residents are asked to:
Ensure that you are prepared, if you know that there is a major snowfall forecasted
remove parked cars from the street prior to and during plowing or clearing operations
clear snow and ice from sidewalks as soon as possible after a snowfall to ensure that they are safe for all residents
help others, especially seniors and disabled persons to clear their driveways and sidewalks
not place snow on the roadways - this could lead to a fine under City By-law No. 23-79 which prohibits the placement of snow from private property onto the public right-of-way.
Be patient and thoughtful. The City is out there working on your behalf. A little consideration and common sense can go a long way when weather conditions are difficult.
What we do first
Roads:
When a snowfall is:
Less than 8 cm (3″)
major roads are salted
residential streets are sanded if required
More than 8 cm (3″)
major roads are first plowed and then salted
residential streets are plowed and sanded
Snow clearing operations for roads are done according to a Priority Route System:
First we clear major roads to achieve bare pavement. These roads are the key routes for emergency vehicles, public transportation and the majority of street traffic. For example, Hurontario Street, Dundas, Burnhamthorpe.
Once the major roads are clear, our snow clearing crews move onto residential streets which are the majority of city roads. We may not be able to achieve bare pavement on residential streets, however our objective is to make them passable and safe to allow motorists to reach major roads. All residential streets receive the same level of service from their designated Works Yard but keep in mind that temperature and weather conditions may vary from one area to another within the City.
Lastly we clear cul de sacs, bends and dead-end streets. Their configuration presents a unique challenge for snow operations. For cul de sacs, snow is generally pushed to the centre for storage. For bends and dead ends, snow is piled to the side of the road. Bus stops are also cleared at the end of a snow clearing operation.
The City’s objective is to complete snow clearing operations within 24 hours after the end of a winter storm.
Heavy snowfalls of more than 15 cm (6″) or back-to-back storms can extend snow clearing operations to 48 hours or more after the end of a winter storm.
Windrows
A windrow is the snow left at the bottom of the driveway after a snow plow has cleared the road. This is due to snow plows having no place to push snow except to the curb or shoulder of the road.
The City does not clear windrows because it requires additional equipment and staffing resources which are very costly
What about Regional Roads?
Regional roads maintained by the Region of Peel are:
Airport Road
Britannia Road West
Cawthra Road
Derry Road East and West
Dixie Road
Erin Mills Parkway, from North Sheridan Way to Mississauga Road
Queensway, from Mavis Road East to the Toronto border
Winston Churchill Boulevard, from Dundas South to the Lakeshore
For information about snow removal on Regional Roads, call: 905-791-7800 ext. 4409 or go to the Region of Peel website at: http://www.region.peel.on.ca/pw/roads/index.htm
Sidewalks:
When a snowfall is:
Less than 8 cm (3″)
priority sidewalks are sanded
no action on non-priority sidewalks
More than 8 cm (3″)
priority sidewalks are plowed and sanded
no action on non-priority sidewalks
The City will clear snow on sidewalks that have been designated a “Priority Sidewalk”. Priority sidewalks are located on major roads, bus routes and streets that access hospitals, schools and nursing homes. The City, in order to keep costs down, does not clear non-priority sidewalks. We ask residents to help keep these sidewalks in their neighbourhoods clear of ice and snow.
Because it is the City’s priority to have roads and streets cleared first, snow clearing operation for priority sidewalks is normally completed within 36 hours after the end of a winter storm.
Heavy snowfalls of more than 15 cm (6″) or back-to-back storms can extend snow clearing operations for priority sidewalks beyond 36 hours after the end of a winter storm.
Snow Clearing Damage
The City is not responsible for damage to plants, driveway curbs or other items that have been placed within one meter (three feet) of the sidewalk or roadway
Damage to City-owned trees, sod and pavement will be repaired in the spring.
Assistance With Snow Clearing
The snow clearing match program is no longer available
A snow clearing subsidy program is available for disabled persons who currently receive assistance under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997 or the Ontario Works Act, 1997 or seniors who currently receive the guaranteed income supplement under Part 2 of the Old Age Security Act (Canada).
-To qualify, the applicant must be a Mississauga resident who resides as owner or legal tenant in the residential property for which the snow removal subsidy is required. Residents living in a high rise or similar multi-unit building will not qualify.
-For more information or an application, please call 905-896-5266, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm or write to: City of Mississauga, Finance Division, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C1.
-Those currently registered in the program will receive their winter claim forms in the mail.
Need More Information?
During a snow event, the Transportation and Works Department is busy clearing our roads. As this is our first priority, calling the City during a storm to find out why your street has not yet been cleared will not result in faster snow clearing service on your street. Remember, we have a big job to do and we will get to your street. In the meantime, to find out more about our snow clearing operations, email snowinfo@mississauga.ca or call 905-615-3000 and select Option 1 for snow clearing updates and information.
Related Mississauga and Oakville Real Estate Posts
Posted by Mississauga Real Estate Guide writer Lea as General Mississauga and Oakville Real Estate at 6:25 PM EST