City of Vaughan Prepared for Winter Storm
Snow clearing crews at the City of Vaughan are ready to respond to the forecasted winter storm that is expected to deliver significant amounts of snow.
Vaughan’s Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining more than 2,000 lane kilometres of road, and the City's Parks & Forestry Operations Department is responsible for winter maintenance on the City's 1,000 kilometres of sidewalks. The City uses both in-house and contracted services for winter road maintenance, utilizing over 180 pieces of equipment, operating out of three yards.
Vaughan’s anti-icing program involves the application of liquid salt brine to bridge decks, sharp curves and steep inclines prior to a winter storm starting. This proactive measure not only reduces overall salt usage, but helps prevent ice from forming in these areas during the early stages of a storm.
Vaughan also uses a state-of-the-art Road Weather Information System (RWIS) to monitor pavement temperature, ambient temperature, wind speed and road surface salinity to ensure proper snow clearing methods and to prevent excess use of de-icing materials.
Salting and snow plough operations follow a priority system, with high-volume primary roads being salted and/or ploughed first, followed by secondary roads, cul-de-sacs and rear laneways. Ploughing operations on primary roads and sidewalks begin when snowfall reaches or exceeds five centimeters, or salting becomes ineffective. Secondary roads are completed only after primary roads are completed.
To assist with snow clearing operations, remember:
- Stay off the roads during a heavy snow storm unless it is essential
- Do not park on the road
- Clear snow and ice from the public sidewalk in front of your property
- Do not pile or blow snow onto the roadway. It is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act to place snow on the roadway.
- Stay well back from ploughs and salting equipment
To see where the ploughs, salt trucks, and driveway windrow clearing machines are working, visit the "Where Is My Plow" link on the City’s website at www.vaughan.ca.
Major arterial roads, such as Bathurst, Dufferin, Keele and Major Mackenzie, are maintained by York Region.
For more information about the City’s snow clearing program, click here or call the Public Works Department at 905-832-8562.