Ottawa promises snowplows will be 'more aggressive' in clearing snow and ice on sidewalks and streets this winter
City of Ottawa snowplows will be responding "more aggressive and proactively" to snow and ice storms this winter, including trying to minimize the snow and ice build up on residential streets and sidewalks.
The transportation committee received an update on winter operations on Wednesday, as forecasters warn Ontario may see the worst start to winter in 25 years.
Director of Roads and Parking Services Alain Gonthier told councillors that the city of Ottawa's operations are always evolving to address both the change in climate conditions and the needs of the community.
"What we've seen over the last two winters is for our teams to provide more focus on sidewalks and also on some of the residential areas, based on the concerns that we were hearing," said Gonthier.
Gonthier says the city will also take a "more aggressive position" in terms of responding to events.
"What we're trying to do through that proactive process is try to minimize the amount of snow and ice that packs onto the streets, which then become very difficult and expensive to remove," said Gonthier.
When it comes to clearing residential streets, snowplows will keep the same residential beats, but will alternate the starting points to even out snow-clearing operations.
"Basically, two key things that residents will see is: One, plows at different times and they should see more consistency in terms of the condition of residential roadways."
Workers clear 13,000 kilometres of roads and 2,400 kilometres of sidewalks and pathways. The city of Ottawa has 535 winter maintenance operators and 575 pieces of equipment.
Other improvements for snow-clearing operations this winter include the city piloting pre-treated salt on sidewalks to reduce icy conditions and salt use and replacing sand with grit on sidewalks and most roads to provide greater traction and reduce environmental impacts.
City staff are still reviewing the winter operations standards, with proposals for enhanced standards for sidewalks and pathways, Winter Cycling Network and residential roads coming next spring.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.