Winter Maintenance

Residents are encouraged to remove items from the end of driveways and boulevards. Common items that fall into that category include, but are not limited to:

• Waste disposal bins
• Basketball or hockey nets
• Planters

These items can obstruct road and sidewalk snow-clearing operations. While our operators take care to avoid obstacles, items left near the road or sidewalk may be damaged or displaced during winter maintenance.

Moving these items further onto private property helps our crews keep roads and sidewalks clear, safe, and accessible throughout the winter season.

During snow clearing, waste disposal bins should not be kept on the roadway or on top of sidewalks as they can interfere with snow clearing operations. If a snowplow knocks over a bin, operators are not responsible for picking up the bin or its contents. 

Bins should be kept at the end of the driveway within eight (8) feet of the traveled portion of the road. This will ensure the automatic arm of the waste disposal trucks can reach while also allowing room for snow clearing equipment to pass. View the County of Simcoe’s Winter Collections Reminders for more on how to navigate winter waste collection.

Snow markers can be placed along roads, driveways, and other areas to help snowplow operators identify boundaries when snowbanks have not yet been established.

If you place snow markers along your driveway or the road, please use flexible fiberglass markers or thin wooden stakes. Do not use steel markers, as they can seriously damage snowplow equipment if struck by a plow blade. The Township will not replace any snow markers that were damaged or broken during snow removal operations.

Snowplows may leave snow at the end of your driveway as they clear the road. When clearing this snow, avoid directing it onto or across roadways, and do not push snow across the road. This can create hazardous conditions for drivers and snowplow operators.

Deposit the snow in designated areas on your own property. Where possible, pile snow on the side of your driveway that follows the direction of traffic to help prevent the snowplow from pushing it back into your driveway.

Rural mailboxes located within the road allowance may be exposed to snow, ice, and debris during winter maintenance operations. This can sometimes lead to damage from the force of snow discharged from plows or by winter conditions.

If you have a rural mailbox, check your mailbox and the post prior to the first snowfall to ensure they are secure and able to withstand the blowing winds and debris from the snowplow. 

When snow clearing efforts are in effect, try to keep the snow cleared from around your mailbox so it remains visible and accessible.

The Township will not replace or repair any mailboxes that were damaged by debris and deposit from the snowplow.

Per the Township of Springwater's Traffic and Parking By-Law, parking is strictly prohibited on municipal roads, including unassumed roads, and in municipal parking lots from November 1 to March 31, between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Vehicles parked in driveways must not overhang onto the roadway or sidewalk. The vehicle must be fully contained within the driveway so as not to obstruct snow clearing operations.

Be mindful of parking on the road during the day, especially during major snow events. When our snowplow crews are deployed to clear snow, they try to do so as quickly and efficiently as possible. Cars parked on the road can obstruct the roadway and thus our operations. 

You can help keep plow operations safe and efficient by following these winter tips:

• give snow plows plenty of space and never pass a working snow plow
• keep cars off the street (even if it's not actively snowing)
• always check winter and road conditions before heading out, and leave extra time if necessary
• remove items such as bins, basketball nets, steel stakes and planters away from the edge of your driveway
• keep children safe - don’t let them play, or build snow forts in the snow banks at the side of road
• do not blow or push snow onto or across the road in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act

Our plow operators try to push snow along the roadway as much as possible as they clear the street. Snow plowed onto your driveway from the road is called a windrow. It is your responsibility to clear windrows on your property.

A snow plow may damage property such as mailboxes. We document all damage and repair it as soon as possible.

We use a mix of 95% sand and 5% salt to limit environmental impact and treat icy roads in accordance with Ontario's Minimum Maintenance Standards:

• MMS 3 roads: within 8 hours
• MMS 4 roads: within 12 hours
• MMS 5 roads: within 16 hours

Primary roads within the routes have been determined by emergency vehicle routes and fire stations, traffic volumes, transit routes, steep hills, common gathering locations, and connectivity of road network. Once these priority roads have been cleared, secondary road segments within each route will follow.

Keep up-to-date using the Snow Plow Tracker. Residents can track the progress of the Township's winter maintenance vehicles using the interactive map to see which municipal roads have been cleared within the last 1, 4, 12 and 16 hours.

The Township of Springwater does not remove snow deposited at the end of driveways. We recognize this may be frustrating, particularly for homes near corners and cul-de-sacs that may receive more snow. Multiple plow passes during storms and pushbacks are sometimes necessary for more snow room and effective drainage. For safety and efficiency, plow blades cannot be lifted in front of homes. For the safety and efficiency of snow removal operations, windrows (the ridge of snow left by a passing snow plow) and snow accumulation are sometimes unavoidable, especially around corner lots where snow tends to be more pronounced at driveway entrances.

To completely clear an intersection, the plow must make two passes. First, swing wide into the intersection to reach the centre area then to return to push snow back to the curb line. Also, speed is reduced, and snow is placed at the curb line and is not spread over a wider swath in the boulevard.

Please do not dispose of snow or ice onto the road when clearing your driveway or sidewalk as this hinders our crews winter clearing operations. It is illegal under the Highway Traffic Act and creates hazardous conditions for both drivers and pedestrians. 

Overnight street parking is prohibited on all municipal roads and parking lots between 2:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. from November 1 to March 31 each year, to ensure effective snow removal and to keep roadways, sidewalks, and sewers clear during the winter months. Please help our crews by ensuring vehicles do not obstruct snow removal operations, as outlined in our Parking By-Law. It is important that no parked vehicles extend over sidewalks or roadways. Vehicles that interfere with snow clearance will be subject to ticketing and/or towing. 

First, determine if the damage was caused by the sidewalk plow or private contractor. Sometimes a sidewalk plow will damage property, which is usually lifting of sod by the plow blade. This is not intentionally performed. We document all damage and repair it in the spring and summer. Contact the Township’s Operations Department with the incident details. 

In emergencies, it's vital for our firefighters to have swift access to hydrants, so please keep hydrants clear of snow and ice, ensure there's a three-foot space around each, maintain a clear path to the street, and help out even if the hydrant isn't near your home, as every second counts.

Homeowners own and maintain mailboxes, which should be inspected annually to withstand snow impact. We replace only if the plow physically contacts the mailbox.