Snow is coming. Are you ready?

According to Environment Canada, we are expecting our first significant snowstorm of the season beginning tomorrow (link here) - and the first of the new Councillor's term of office. As usual, the City crews will be out there ensuring the streets are clear, and the Kitchissippi Ward office is here to help with questions or needs. But here are some things you might not have known about Ottawa's snow removal efforts. (Source: City of Ottawa bulletin).

Some facts about Ottawa snow removal: 

The City of Ottawa manages:

• 5,621 km of roads
• 2,175 km of sidewalks
• 233 km of Transitway and Highway 174
• Each year, the City experiences an average of 235.7 cm (2.36 m) of snow

Sidewalks and pathways are prioritized based on classification. For example:

• Class 1 – Downtown business district and the Byward Market
• Class 2 - Downtown/urban residential neighbourhoods where sidewalks are the only safe place to walk
• Class 3 – Includes sidewalks along rural and suburban collector and residential roads
• Class 4 – Unpaved pathways and trails not maintained in the winter

A variety of techniques is used to keep roads, sidewalks and pathways clean and safe, including:

• Salt pre-wetting is when rock salt is sprayed with a liquid de-icer as it is spread. This reduces bounce and scatters of salt and contributes to better adherence to the road. Salt usage is also decreased by approximately 20 per cent.
• Anti-icing is a proactive method before a storm or at beginning. De-icing liquid is applied to prevent ice and snow from bonding to the pavement.
• Abrasives such as sand or grit are used in colder temperatures to increase traction when salt is not effective on snow-packed roads.