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Township of Severn Winter Control Policy
Policy Statement
The purpose of this policy is to provide a statement of objectives for winter
control operations, define the winter control season, and outline level of
service expectations.
Objective
The objective for winter control operations is to maintain safe, passable
roads with priority given to roads carrying the highest volume and/or posted
speed limit; facilitate the handling of emergencies by police, fire, and
ambulance services; to reduce hazards of winter road and sidewalk
conditions to road users; comply with the Ontario Regulation 239/02 -
Maintenance Standards.
The roadway classes and definitions used in this policy are as defined in
Ontario Regulation 239/02 and are based on the posted speed limit and the
known volume of traffic.
Winter Control Season
The Public Works Department shall have all winter operations equipment,
schedules, staffing, and procedures in place to commence winter control
operations on the 15th day of November. Winter control operations
equipment and staffing will be available to respond to winter events until the
15th day of April.
Roadway Plowing Level of Service
While snow continues to accumulate, deploy resources to clear snow as soon
as practical after becoming aware of the fact that the snow accumulation on
the roadway is greater than the depth set out in the Table 1.
Table 1 - Treatment of Snow Accumulation (Roadways)
Class of Highway
Depth
Time
2
5 cm
6 Hours
3
8 cm
12 Hours
4
8 cm
16 Hours
5
10 cm
24 Hours
After the snow accumulation has ended and after becoming aware that the
snow accumulation is greater than the depth set out in Table 1, to clear the
snow accumulation to a depth of less than or equal to the depth set out in
Table 1 within the timeframes set out in Table 1
Roadway plowing will clear the snow accumulation from the roadway to
within 0.6 metres inside the outer edges of the roadway. On class 4 and 5
highways with two lanes, the snow accumulation on the roadway must be
cleared to a width of at least 5.0 metres.
For a major snow event resources may be reassigned to higher class roads
to ensure basic access for emergency vehicles and that the large traffic
volumes can travel safely.
If a winter event becomes so severe that winter event response cannot
safely continue all operations involved in the clearing of the snow
accumulation may be suspended until conditions improve.
Clearing of windrowed snow at all residential driveways, commercial and
industrial entrances will be the responsibility of the property owner.
This level of service does not apply to that portion of the roadway
designated for parking.
Roadway Sanding Level of Service
To prevent icy roadways within the time set out in the Table 2 after
determining to deploy resources for that purpose. To prevent ice formation
or improve traction,
roadways will generally receive application of abrasives on hills, curves and
intersections.
Table 2 - Prevention of Ice (Roadways)
Class of Highway
Time
2
8 Hours
3
16 Hours
4
24 Hours
5
24 Hours
When icy roadways begin to form, deploy resources to treat the icy roadway
as soon as practical after becoming aware of the fact that the roadway is icy.
To treat the icy roadway within the time set out in the Table 3 after
becoming aware that the roadway is icy. Roadways will generally receive
application of abrasives on hills, curves and intersections.
Table 3 - Treatment of Ice (Roadways)
Class of Highway
Time
2
4 Hours
3
8 Hours
4
12 Hours
5
16 Hours
If the winter event becomes so severe that winter event response cannot
safely continue all operations involved in the treating of icy roadways may
be suspended until conditions improve.
This level of service does not apply to that portion of the roadway
designated for parking.
Sidewalk Plowing Level of Service
While snow continues to accumulate, deploy resources to clear snow as soon
as practical after becoming aware of the fact that the snow accumulation on
the sidewalk is greater than 8 centimeters within 48 hours.
After the snow accumulation has ended and after becoming aware that the
snow accumulation is greater than 8 centimeters, to clear the snow
accumulation to a depth of less than or equal to 8 centimeters within 48
hours.
Sidewalk plowing will clear the snow accumulation from the sidewalk to
provide a minimum sidewalk width of 1.0 metre.
If a winter event becomes so severe that winter event response cannot
safely continue all operations involved in the clearing of the snow
accumulation may be suspended until conditions improve.
Clearing of windrowed snow at all residential driveways, commercial and
industrial entrances will be the responsibility of the property owner.
Snow removed from sidewalk snow blowers will be deposited onto municipal
property where possible.
Sidewalk Sanding Level of Service
Prevent ice formation or improve traction within 48 hours if there is a
substantial probability of ice forming on a sidewalk.
When icy sidewalks begin to form, deploy resources to treat the icy
sidewalks as soon as practical after becoming aware of the fact that the
sidewalk is icy, and treat the icy sidewalks within 48 hours after becoming
aware that the sidewalk is icy.
If the winter event becomes so severe that winter event response cannot
safely continue all operations involved in the treating of icy sidewalks may
be suspended until conditions improve.
Snow Removal Level of Service
Removal and disposal of accumulated snow is carried out in those areas
where inadequate physical space exists to store the snow and/or the
presence of snowbanks interferes with the movement of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic.
The objective will be to deploy resources on roadways within the response
time frames set out below after becoming aware that the snow banks
parallel to the roadway exceed the height specified and to reduce the height
of the banks to below the height indicated in Table 4 within the timeframes
specified for each classification of roadway.
Table 4 - Removal of Snow Accumulation (Roadways)
Class of Highway
Depth
Time
Downtown
Core(s)
60 cm
3 Days
2
90 cm
As resources
permit
3-5
As required for lane
width
As resources
permit
Reducing depth of snowpack is carried out if there are significant ruts or
potholes, which are creating a hazard, and the depth of the snowpack
exceeds 8 centimeters.
Accumulated snow and/or snowpack reduction will be dependent on weather
conditions and available resources.