The City of Montreal is mobilizing a massive fleet to tackle the significant snowfall that blanketed the city over the Christmas holiday. The municipality has announced a major snow loading operation will commence across all boroughs on Saturday night.
Operation Details and Timeline
The large-scale clean-up is a direct response to the approximately 16 centimetres of snow that accumulated between December 23 and 25. The city-wide operation is officially set to launch at 7 p.m. on Saturday, with work required to begin in all sectors no later than 7 p.m. on Sunday. Boroughs have been given the authorization to start snow removal efforts immediately.
To clear the extensive municipal road network, which spans roughly 11,000 kilometres, the city is deploying a small army of personnel and equipment. Close to 3,000 people and 2,500 snow removal vehicles will be involved in the loading operations.
Resident Guidelines and Parking Information
City officials have issued clear guidelines to residents to ensure the operation proceeds efficiently and to avoid vehicles being towed. Parking restrictions will be in effect, typically alternating between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. periods, and will be lifted promptly once snow loading is complete in a given area. Drivers must check for posted signs.
The city advises motorists to park their vehicles 30 centimetres parallel from the sidewalk and to fold in their mirrors. Residents are also asked to remove bulky items from sidewalks and to keep garbage bags and bins on their property, not on the street or sidewalk.
To assist with overnight parking, the city is making 8,223 off-street parking spaces available from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. The municipality notes it is paying "sustained attention" to sidewalks to maintain safe pathways for pedestrians.
Safety and Tracking the Operation
With such a large fleet of heavy machinery on the roads, public safety is a priority. The city urges caution, reminding everyone that snow removal vehicles have large blind spots. "Make eye contact with the driver to ensure they are aware of your presence. Keep in mind that snowplows often have to move forward and backward to do their job," the statement reads.
Residents can track the progress of snow clearing in their neighbourhood in real time by downloading the 311 Montreal app, formerly known as Montreal — Citizen Services. Additional information, including a map of free parking spaces and access to the INFO-Towing system to locate a towed vehicle, is available in the snow removal section of the official city website, montreal.ca.
