The City of Montreal has mobilized its public works teams in response to hazardous conditions left by a recent bout of freezing rain. Municipal crews are actively working to make streets and walkways safer for residents by addressing two major winter hazards: icy sidewalks and proliferating potholes.
Immediate Response to Icy Conditions
Following the freezing rain event, the city's priority is ensuring pedestrian safety. Crews are applying a mixture of salt and sand to sidewalks across Montreal to melt ice and provide better traction. This standard procedure is crucial for preventing slips and falls, which become significantly more common after such weather events. The operation is city-wide, focusing on public walkways, crosswalks, and areas with high foot traffic.
Pothole Patching Campaign Underway
In tandem with ice control, the municipality has launched a pothole repair initiative. The freeze-thaw cycle, exacerbated by the freezing rain, is notorious for damaging road surfaces. Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and then thaws, creating and enlarging potholes. These road defects pose risks to vehicles, including tire damage and alignment issues. City crews are patching these holes to improve drivability and protect motorists.
The work is part of the city's ongoing winter maintenance obligations. The operations were confirmed by the city on Wednesday, January 1, 2026. While the original report did not specify the number of crews deployed or the exact scale of the work, such responses typically involve multiple teams operating in different boroughs to cover the vast urban area efficiently.
Ongoing Winter Challenges for Montreal
This specific response highlights the continuous battle Montreal faces during its winter months. The city's infrastructure is regularly tested by snow, ice, and fluctuating temperatures. Effective and timely maintenance is essential for public safety and the smooth functioning of daily life. Residents are often encouraged to report particularly dangerous potholes or icy patches to 311, the city's information line, to help direct repair resources.
The city's public works department is tasked with balancing these reactive measures with planned maintenance. The aftermath of a freezing rain event requires a swift shift in resources to tackle the most immediate dangers before returning to other scheduled winter work, such as snow clearing from major storms.
