Snow Removal
The Public Works Department offers the following road related services during the winter months.
General Information
The inspection of roads during the winter maintenance season begins the third Friday of November and continues until the second Friday of April.
Road patrols are carried out each morning commencing at 4:00 am seven (7) days a week.
Snow Plowing
The plowing of roads is generally carried out in accordance with the classification of roads.
Arterial roads such as Main Street and the Tenth Line receive preferred services at all times. These roads are major carriers of traffic and generally connect with major Regional and/or Provincial roads.
Collector roads provide access to Town arterial roads and Regional arterial roads. Examples are Millard Street, Stouffer Street and Hemlock Road.
Local roads such as Ironwood Crescent, Sawmill Lane, Hill Country Drive etcetera, are generally the final roads to be serviced. These roads generally carry low volumes of traffic and are not intended to carry through traffic.
Normal plowing operations of arterial, collector and local roads take approximately (8) hours to complete after the end of a snow storm. Generally the plowing of Arterial and Collector roads will be in progress before the plowing of local roads commence.
At the beginning of a snowfall, the arterial and collector roads are salted and the local roads are sanded at hills, curves and intersections.
Generally, the plowing of roads commences after the accumulation of five (5) centimetres of snow.
All cul-de-sacs are plowed. Generally snow will be pushed to the centre of the cul-de-sac and will remain there until time permits clean-up or the area for snow storage becomes limited.
Sidewalks
The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville provides snow clearing and sanding during the winter season for all sidewalks within the Community of Stouffville, Ballantrae and Gormley. The Town does not maintain sidewalks on private property such as condominiums and commercial properties.
The plowing and sanding of sidewalks commences when snow accumulations are five (5) centimetres or greater. The plowing and sanding of sidewalks is normally completed within twenty-four (24) hours after the end of a snowfall. The Town will re-sand sidewalks, as required, to avoid icy conditions after snow clearing is complete.
Grass & Sod Damage
Occasionally grass and sod damage may occur on the boulevard adjacent to sidewalks during winter maintenance operations. This is a result of the ground not being frozen before the first snow fall arrives. If this happens to the grass/sod by the road or sidewalk adjacent to your property, please contact our Customer Service Centre to report the damage. The Town will repair the damage to the grass in the spring.
Sanding and Salting
The sanding and salting of roads are carried out to maintain roads safe and passable. Road salting operations are carried out on arterial roads and collector roads.
Road sanding operations are generally carried out on local roads. Continuous sanding occurs only during freezing rain or general icy conditions.
Snow Removal
A regular snow removal program is in place only for Main Street between Albert Street and Park Drive. Generally this activity will take place after the accumulation of snow on the shoulder of the road has reached 0.75 meters is height.
Snow removal in other locations will take place on an as needed basis. Examples include when plowed or piled snow impede the safe and efficient movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, blocked access to fire hydrants, creates unsafe sight distances, children are using the snow piled in cul-de-sacs as play areas.
Culvert Steaming/Cleaning
During the winter months, road culverts and driveway entrance culverts are maintained on an as needed basis in order to prevent ice and snow accumulations which impede flow and create flooding problems on road surfaces and/or private properties.
Please call our Customer Service Centre at 905-640-1900 or 1-855-642-TOWN (8696) to report a drainage problem or blocked culvert.
Windrow Clearing Service
The Town provides a windrow snow clearing service to seniors and physically challenged residents where there is no able bodied person living in the household at no cost. The snow windrow is the snow bank left across your driveway by the snowplow.
Windrow Removal General Information
Driveway Windrow Removal Assistance Form