As winter tightens its grip on Ontario, the City of Barrie is proactively addressing common questions and concerns from residents about its seasonal operations. With snowfall becoming a regular feature, municipal officials have compiled answers to the top five inquiries they receive regarding winter maintenance.
Clearing Up Confusion on Snow Removal Priorities
A primary concern for many residents involves the sequence of snow clearing operations. The city has a defined priority system. Major arterial roads, bus routes, and streets around emergency facilities like hospitals are addressed first to ensure critical services and transportation corridors remain open. Collector roads and residential streets follow, with the goal of having all city-owned roads plowed within 24 hours after a snowfall ends. Cul-de-sacs and lanes, while still serviced, may experience longer wait times due to their complexity and lower traffic volume.
Another frequent question revolves around sidewalk maintenance. The city clarifies that it is responsible for plowing sidewalks adjacent to all municipal properties, parks, and on most bridges. However, property owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of their own homes and businesses. This bylaw is enforced to ensure safe pedestrian passage, especially for children walking to school and individuals with mobility challenges.
Managing Expectations and Salt Use
The use of salt and sand on roads is a balanced act between safety and environmental responsibility. Barrie's operations use a pre-wetted salt mixture, which is more effective at lower temperatures and sticks to the road better, reducing overall salt usage. Crews aim to apply this mixture strategically, focusing on hills, intersections, and known trouble spots. Residents are asked to understand that during continuous snowfall or extreme cold, roads may remain snow-covered until plows can make effective passes.
Windrows—the piles of snow left at the end of driveways after a plow passes—are an inevitable part of winter. The city acknowledges this frustration but notes that its crews do not clear windrows from private driveways. This policy is in place to keep operations efficient and focused on public roadways. Residents are encouraged to shovel snow to the right side of their driveway (when facing the house) to minimize the amount pushed back by the plow.
How Residents Can Assist and Report Issues
Finally, the city emphasizes partnership with the community. Residents can help by parking vehicles off the street whenever possible during snow events to allow plows clear access. They are also reminded not to push or blow snow from their property onto the road, as this creates safety hazards and is prohibited by bylaw.
For reporting urgent issues like a missed street or a blocked sidewalk near a city building, residents should contact the city's customer service line. The municipality's winter maintenance plans are designed to be adaptable, with crews on standby to respond to changing weather conditions as forecasted by Environment Canada.
By clarifying these common points, the City of Barrie aims to foster a smoother, safer winter season for all its residents, encouraging patience and understanding as crews work around the clock to manage the elements.
