Who plows the snow on roads and sidewalks in the Township of Springwater?
During the winter, the Township maintains roads, sidewalks, and Township-owned parking lots using staff and contractors. The types of equipment used are snow plows, tractors, loaders, graders, and sidewalk plows.
What are the Township’s priority areas for snow plowing?
Priority is given to emergency vehicle routes, routes connecting fire stations, high-traffic urban sections, and school zones. Once these areas are cleared, secondary roads and residential areas are addressed.
How does the Township of Springwater decide when to start snow clearance operations?
Winter operations begin based on local and provincial weather monitoring and winter patrols. Treatment times and deployment decisions are based on weather forecasts, road conditions and service levels. The Township has developed carefully planned service levels for winter road maintenance.
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.
What happens during a normal snowfall event?
Overnight, winter patrollers monitor the conditions of the Township. During a continuous snowfall, the patroller will call in the road’s crews for a 3:30 a.m. start to begin plowing and sanding major roads.
How do I stay informed about snow plows and services during a snow storm?
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.
Why isn’t 24/7 service provided on residential routes?
Due to Provincial regulations, there is a maximum number of hours that plow drivers can be on duty. Further, all drivers are typically required in at the same time on all routes to provide a consistently high level of service across the Township during snowfall. Therefore, more staff would need to be hired for an additional shift if the Township were to provide 24/7 service on residential routes, resulting in increased costs that would have an impact on ratepayers.
Why does the County of Simcoe have bare roads more quickly?
The County of Simcoe uses straight salt enhancing road clearing by melting snow, especially with high traffic volumes. This method, however, has greater financial and environmental implications.
Does the Township of Springwater use sand instead of salt?
The Township uses a mix of salt and sand on the rural roads. We use a mix of sand and salt to provide both de-icing and traction which reduces the financial burden compared to straight salt usage and lessens the impact to the environment.
When will my street or sidewalks be cleared?
Crews start plowing roads when enough snow has accumulated to warrant plowing. Each route can take 6 or more hours to complete so your road may have been plowed early in the storm although it may be hard to tell since more snow has fallen.
Can the Township clear the snow from the end of my driveway?
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.
I live on a corner lot and when the snow plow turns the corner, excessive amounts of snow seem to accumulate on my driveway. Why can’t the operator prevent this from happening?
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.
Is it okay to push snow onto or across the road when removing snow from my property?
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.
Can I park on the street overnight in the winter?
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.
The plow damaged my lawn, what do I do?
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.
Why is it important to keep fire hydrants clear of snow?
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.
My mailbox was damaged, who is responsible?
Homeowners own and maintain mailboxes, which should be inspected annually to withstand snow impact. We replace only if the plow physically contacts the mailbox.
