As the winter season starts to roll in, we'd like to highlight the important municipal services that will take place over the next few months and provide you with a few reminders to help you stay safe in the cold weather.
Armed with plows, sand and salt our crews are ready to clear your roads and sidewalks as quickly and effectively as possible. We maintain 5,400 lane kilometres of roads and 170 kilometres of sidewalks.
Winter conditions create challenges for both pedestrians and motorists. We are committed to providing safe, passable roads, sidewalks and parking lots so that residents can travel safely during the winter months.
The primary objectives of the winter control program are:
- to reduce the hazards of winter conditions for motorists and pedestrians on roads, sidewalks, and parking lots maintained by the City
- to reduce the economic losses to the community and industry resulting from traffic delays and accidents
- to facilitate the handling of emergencies by all emergency personnel
- to maintain safe, passable school bus and public transit routes
You can report snow related concerns online or call 705-324-9411 to speak with customer service.
Our Winter Control Roadway Level of Service Policy and Sidewalk Level of Service Policy - Winter Maintenance provide more information about our winter control practices.
It's that time of the year
As the snow continues to fall, winter operations are underway to help keep our roads and sidewalks safe. Our equipment operators, running plow trucks applying materials such as sand/salt, as well as our patrol crews, are busy working around the clock to monitor and manage infrastructure throughout the different weather conditions. Help us work together by doing your part such as keeping your vehicles off the roads and your sidewalks clear.
Snow plow operations
- Kawartha Lakes is the second largest geographic municipality in Canada. This means we have over 5400 lane kms to clear during every winter and/or freezing rain event. Please be patient during winter events as our crews can be out as early as 4am to begin maintaining the roads.
- We have 71 snow plow routes throughout Kawartha Lakes. The number of plows on duty depends on staff and equipment availability as well as road conditions.
- If you see a truck with their snow plow up, that means the plow is currently traveling to their designated route. Often times, trucks need to cross through other roads to reach their destination.
- If you have a concern to report regarding a road, please use our online Report It tool and your report will be sent directly to the crew responsible for the area.
Help do your part during the winter season
- Pile snow from your driveway and walkways onto your property - not on the road. It is against the Ontario Highway Traffic Act to deposit snow or ice on a roadway without permission from the road authority.
- Clear walkways around your property as soon as you can after a snowfall applying sand or salt when icy.
- Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible. The extra time you take to clear the hydrant each time you shovel will make a difference in the case of a fire.
- On your waste collection day, place bags and bins on your driveway near the edge of the road in a cleared spot. Do not place containers on snowbanks.
- During a winter event, please plan your route accordingly if you need to travel during snowy or icy weather. Travel on busier roads and be sure to clear all the snow off your vehicle for visibility and safety measures.
Reminder:
Kawartha Lakes is not responsible for providing salt or sand for public and private use.
Salt and sand can be purchased at your local hardware store.
Other things you need to know:
- Overnight parking on the street is not permitted between the hours of 11pm and 6am between November 1 and April 30. The by-law is in place so our Public Works division can quickly and efficiently clear our roads during the winter season without obstructions.
- Monitor the weather and extreme cold alerts by following The Weather Network or on the Government of Canada's website.
- If you are planning any activities near frozen bodies of water, please ensure you read our Emergency Services' Ice Safety Tips
Frequently asked questions |
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Resident responsibilities |
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You are responsible for clearing the snow on your property including the snow left by plows in your driveway and on the sidewalk. You may need to clear your driveway a number of times if plows make multiple trips on your road during the storm. Avoid parking on the streets during a snowstorm and in the days following a snowstorm. Parked cars interfere with snow plowing operations. Plows must re-plow these areas resulting in additional costs and further inconvenience for your neighbours who must clear their driveways again. Vehicles interfering with winter control operations are subject to an immediate ticket and/or towing. How you can assist
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Transit shelters and mailboxes |
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The City clears snow at bus shelters after roads are cleared. Visit the transportation and transit section of our website for more information about City transit. Canada Post clears snow away from mailbox areas. You can contact them by calling 1-800-607-6301. |
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Tips for safe winter driving |
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The two-second rule provides a guide to safe spacing under normal driving conditions. In winter and during poor weather conditions you should double the two second rule.
Keep a winter driving survival kit in your vehicle that includes:
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Even in the snow there are places to go!
Don't let the winter blues keep you inside this season. Check out things to do in the winter, such as public skating or see our online calendar and visit our Community News page to learn about other community events happening around Kawartha Lakes!
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