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Winter Operations
FAQs
Road Operations
Snow Safety
Winter Storm Resources
# Winter Operations
Public Works is responsible for winter operations on the Town's streets, sidewalks, walkways and parking lots. Winter operations includes snowplowing, sanding and salting, and snow removal which is carried out by municipally-owned and operated equipment and contractors. It is the objective of the Public Works Department to conduct its operational activities in an efficient and effective way, so as to provide safe driving and walking conditions on all roads and sidewalks owned and maintained by the Town.
Roads are patrolled regularly during the winter months to monitor conditions and deploy equipment and materials as necessary. Winter road maintenance is completed in accordance with the Ontario Minimum Maintenance Standards for Ontario Highways to ensure Town streets and sidewalks remain safe and passable for motorists and pedestrians.
322 km of Roads
60 km of Sidewalks
10 Town Parking
16 Bridges
Designated Plow Routes
The following is the general priority for snow plowing and sanding/salting operations within designated plow routes:
* **Priority 1** - Major Collector Roads and Bridges
* **Priority 2** - Collector Roads
* **Priority 3** - Local Roads, Side Streets and cul-de-sacs
When plowing operations begin, Operators are following routes that have been designed to minimize duplication and maximize efficiency. The length of time to complete a route varies however, it may take approximately six to eight hours to complete.
Snow Safety and Etiquette
The Town does not offer snow clearing assistance on private property.
* You may be able to get assistance from a family member, friend or neighbour.
* There are also private snow clearing businesses in the area that provide this service. Please check online for listings.
* Snow Angels Canada is an alternative, community-fuelled tool to connect neighbours and their neighbourhood requesting shoveling or to find others in need of such assistance. Visit Snow Angels Canada for more information.
* Lend a hand to those who may not be able to shovel their own snow. Take enough breaks and don't push yourself too hard.
By clearing snow away from storm sewer catch basins near your property, you may help prevent street flooding and icy road conditions.
Keep children informed about winter road safety.
* Remind children not to climb, play, dig forts or tunnels near roads or in snow banks as cars and snowplows can come by at any moment.
Pile all snow from your driveway and sidewalks on your property, not on the road.
* Section 181 of the Highway Traffic Act prohibits the depositing of snow and ice on a roadway without written permission from the Ministry or other road authority. Failure to comply with the Highway Traffic Act may result in a fine being issued to the property owner or contractor.
In order to minimize snow from being pushed back into driveways, do not park on roadways during the winter months. Plows need to move around parked vehicles, which create snow build-up. Ultimately when the vehicles are moved and further plowing is done, snow build-up is pushed back into driveways.
* When clearing snow from your driveway, pile the snow on the right side of the driveway (looking towards the street from driveway). This will reduce the amount of snow pushed back into your driveway when the street is plowed. Property owners are responsible for keeping snow banks low at the end of their driveways.
* We understand your frustration when you clear your driveway and then a snowplow comes by and leaves a pile of snow - a windrow. The priority of our work crews is clearing the travelled portion of the road. The only place to move the snow is onto the boulevard, which includes driveways. As a result, snow left at the bottom of driveways is unavoidable. Unfortunately, it is impossible to clear snow from the roads without leaving one.
Drive smart - give yourself extra time and space.
Give snow plows plenty of room and remember they may need to back up.
* When approaching a snow plow, keep your headlights on and stay to the right.
For more information on status of roads in the area, please visit the following websites:
99.5 Moose FM CFBG
102.3 Country 102 CJMU
Ministry of Transportation - Winter Road Conditions
Trillium Lakelands District School Board - Bus Cancellations
Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board - Bus Cancellations
Clear snow away from fire hydrants so they are visible and accessible to emergency services personnel at all times.
* If your property abuts a fire hydrant, please help to keep your community safe by clearing a path to and around the hydrant as part of your routine snow management activity.
* If you are unable to keep the fire hydrant clear or have any questions about hydrant maintenance, contact the District Municipality of Muskoka - Water and Sewer
Heavy snow accumulation, icy roads and/or poor visibility during winter maintenance activities can make it difficult for snow plow operations to avoid waste and recycling collection items placed alongside the roadway or sidewalk. To help make collection as easy and efficient as possible during the winter months, residents are reminded of the following:
### Container Placement on Driveway
Place your collectible materials on the right side of the driveway approximately 1.5 metres (5 feet) from the curbside. The "right" side is the right side of your driveway when you stand at the curb facing the road. Avoid placing your waste and recycling containers on roadways, boulevards and sidewalks, as they will:
* block oncoming traffic;
* prevent snow plows from properly clearing the roadway and sidewalk;
* create a hazard as they could get hit by vehicles or taken away by snow plows; and
* prevent waste materials from being knocked over or buried during snow clearing operations.
Also avoid placing your waste and recycling containers behind or on top of snowbanks to eliminate the potential risk of a dangerous slip or fall onto the pavement for you or the waste collectors.
### Early Morning Container Placement
Waste collection items are best put out early in the morning otherwise waste containers could get buried during a snowfall and as a result may not be collected. Retrieve your waste containers soon after collection. Empty containers are vulnerable to winds and ongoing snow plow operations creating a hazard if knocked into the sidewalk or roadway. Write your address on your containers so if found, they can be easily returned to you. Download your custom collection schedule and receive access to updates and notifications by downloading the District Municipality of Muskoka's mobile app search for "Muskoka Recycles" in the app store.
Canada Post is responsible for clearing the snow and ice around Community Mailboxes. Please contact Canada Post Customer Service at 1-800-267-1177 for any maintenance issues.
* Please assist snow plow operators by making sure your rural mailbox is in a good state of repair and not an obstruction. Review Canada Post guidelines for proper placement and maintenance of rural mailboxes that meet specifications and road safety criteria before installation.
* Mailboxes damaged by snow load from the snow plow equipment will not be replaced by the municipality.
* As a courtesy the municipality will replace a damaged mailbox if the damage is deemed to result from a direct hit by snow plow equipment. Please contact the Public Works Department at 705-645-5264 and inspection and assessment will be made by the Public Works Foreman.
Do not park on roadways during the winter months. Parked vehicles can prevent snow removal crews from clearing the roads in a timely and efficient manner.
* Park your car within your driveway so your vehicle does not extend onto the street or sidewalk as this may obstruct snow clearing operations.
* Vehicles obstructing snow clearing operations may be subject to a fine and may be towed at the owner's expense.
* Please be advised that parking on all municipal streets and parking lots (with the exception of the Hiram Street Parking Lot designated 24-hour maximum time limit parking spaces) any day from October 16 - April 15 between the hours of 2:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. is prohibited to facilitate snow clearing or removal.
* For further information about parking restrictions, please contact the By-Law Enforcement Branch at 705-645-5264.
The Town of Bracebridge By-Law 2020-079 (amends By-Law 2017-070) requires that every owner of a premises within the Business Improvement Area (BIA) shall ensure that all snow and ice has been cleared from the sidewalk area adjacent to the premises during business hours and deposited at the curb area of the sidewalk near the roadway.
As a courtesy, the Town will have a sidewalk plow make one pass on sidewalks in the BIA to assist these property owners with snow removal.
By-Law 2017-070 A By-Law to Regulate the Deposting of Snow or Ice on any Town Highway within the Municipality.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first snowfall of the year and the gravel road has not been plowed. Why?
Gravel roads are plowed when the road surface is frozen. Plowing unfrozen gravel roads can be dangerous as the front "slusher" plow has a tendency to dig into the gravel surface bringing the truck to a very quick halting stop which can leave open cuts in the road surface OR throw the truck out of the travelled lane and into oncoming traffic.
The plow can also loose unfrozen gravel into the ditch, wasting material.
What is a windrow?
A windrow is the row of snow left at the bottom of a driveway after the snow plow has cleared the road. As the snow is moved from left to right by the snow plow, it is deposited in a long narrow pile along the right edge of the road. Windrows are unavoidable when snow is plowed in this manner.
Driveway windrows cannot be avoided by raising or lowering the front plow or side "wing" plow on the snow plow. Doing this would leave snow deposited on the travelled portion of the road which is unsafe for road users.
Homeowners are responsible for clearing windrows.
Why does the snow plow seem to dump a lot of snow on corner lots?
Residents living on corner lots usually have slightly more snow deposited in front of their houses as there is a larger portion of roadway that needs to be cleared at an intersection.
I just removed the snow from my driveway left by the road plow, and now the sidewalk plow has deposited snow back onto it. Why can't the sidewalk plow and road plow come down my street at the same time?
The Town understands the frustration that this causes.
Unfortunately, due to the variations in the plow routes; the difference in the capability and speed of sidewalk plows versus road plows; and the difference in priority routes; it is near impossible to align the timing and scheduling of the sidewalk and road plowing operations.
Why do I see snow plows going down my street scraping roads when there isn't that much snow on the road?
As winter weather conditions fluctuate, we take advantage of milder temperatures to return residential roads to bare pavement while limiting salt usage. We also remove the ruts which have already formed on the snow packed surface. This allows for a better surface to clear in the upcoming winter months.
In addition, the clearing operation assists in keeping catch basins open to avoid flooding.
If weather permits, we push snow banks back to curbs to provide more driving width on the roadway and storage place for snow along residential streets. In the long term, this may also help in reducing the cost of snow removal.
What do I do if the snow plow has damaged the lawn?
Unfortunately during winter maintenance operations, municipal equipment causes lawn damage.
If damage occurs, please contact the Public Works Department at 705-645-5264 ext. 3650.
Lawn or boulevard damage caused by Town snow plow operations are documented. Crews are deployed early in the spring to investigate and repair appropriate damaged areas by using topsoil and grass seed.
Why are snow removal crews working when it is not snowing?
Snow removal involves much more than simply plowing roads when there is a storm. Crews must also remove the snow so it does not impede with regular traffic, pedestrian, etc. Removal or reduction of snow banks is carried out when snow banks restrict sightlines, travel widths, pedestrian traffic or to relieve trapped water on the roadway or sidewalk and to create storage space for future snowfall.
Contact Us
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
705-645-5264 ext. 3650
[email protected]
After-hours emergency
705-645-5264
Additional Resources
**District of Muskoka**
Engineering and Public Works Department
705-645-6764
**Ministry of Transportation**
Highway 11 and Highway 118 (east)
Information, Road Conditions and Closures:
1-800-268-4686
Road Maintenance:
1-866-527-8216
Huntsville Area Office:
705-789-2391 or
1-800-255-7814