Storm cleanup enters new phase, but will take months to complete
City of Ottawa crews have collected debris from last month’s massive storm along more kilometres roadway than it takes to drive across Canada, officials said Tuesday.
And although the city’s storm cleanup work is entering a new phase, it’s expected to take months for the work to be finished.
"This clean-up effort is the largest Public Works has ever led," public works general manager Alain Gonthier said in a memo. "It will take months before it is all complete, but our teams have made incredible progress and will continue until the job is done."
The memo outlines the staggering amount of cleanup the city has done since the May 21 storm, which killed three people in the capital region and knocked out power for days to hundreds of thousands of Ottawa residents.
Crews have collected debris from more than 10,000 lane kilometres of roadways, and a citywide first pass for curbside debris collection is done.
Staff are already doing second and third passes in the worst-hit areas of Navan, Pineglen, Uplands and Stittsville, with more planned for other areas.
Residents with more storm-related tree debris are asked to bring it to the curb by Friday, June 24 so city crews can pick it up using heavy equipment. Smaller branches and other debris can go out with regular leaf and yard waste.
Pineglen resident Grahame Hunt says the city has been by "several times" to pick up debris he's brought to the curb.
"I’ve had cherry trees go down, I’ve had pine trees go down, I had maple trees go down; I had a cedar hedge in the back that was crushed," he said. "Three weeks of strenuous, heavy work; back-breaking work."
Jack Gravelle, the city's public works area manager for suburban east roads said the work has been constant.
"We’re picking up dump truck after dump truck, and we’re continuing to fill them constantly on a daily basis," Gravelle said. "The scope, it’s across entire city, from Stittsville to Sarsfield... we’ve had our staff working around the clock, 12-hour shifts since the storm hit, and we’re still going at it - we’re still just in certain areas just scratching the surface."
Storm-related debris will be free at the Trail Road waste facility until Saturday, June 25.
Parks cleanup
More than 500 city parks had tree-related damage that needed repair work, the city said Tuesday. Of 528 parks with varying degrees of damage, work at 256 has finished. The other 272 still need repair work, which will keep going in the coming weeks.
"The clean-up efforts remaining for our parks and City trees are significant, and staff are addressing them on a priority basis," Gonthier said. "It will take several weeks to complete this work."
Ministry of Natural Resources crews, forestry rangers and contractors have been helping with the work. This week, a city of Hamilton forestry crew is helping with “high priority and complex work related to City tree removal operations.”
Normal work resuming
The storm cleanup has been all-encompassing for public works staff, meaning other regular work was suspended. There have been delays in filling potholes. Some residents may have noticed longer grass in parks and along roadsides and medians.
That temporary suspension is now over, with public works catching up mowing operations through next week, Gonthier said.
About 70 per cent of parks staff have returned to normal duties, with the rest working on tree debris cleanup in parks and on roadsides.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Peter Szperling.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE Police arrest 3 in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
WATCH LIVE Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
BREAKING Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.