‘A lot of work to do’: Cleanup underway after biggest storm in 3 years hits Ottawa

The biggest snowstorm since 2022 blanketed Ottawa Thursday with 32 centimetres of snow. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

The City of Ottawa says there is “still a lot of work to do” to cleanup from the biggest winter storm to hit Ottawa in three years, with more snow expected over the weekend.

Environment Canada says 32 cm of snow blanketed Ottawa on Wednesday night and Thursday, and the capital could see another 25 cm of snow over the Family Day weekend.

• Ottawa to see a one-day break from the snow, with 25 cm of snow expected this weekend

A daytime winter weather parking ban will be in effect Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to allow crews to clear the snow, with only vehicles with on-street parking permits allowed to park on city street.

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you need to know about the major winter storm that hit Ottawa.

Clearing roads, sidewalks

The city says “all resources are deployed” to clear the 32 centimetres of snow from roads and sidewalks, but it will take some time to complete the work.

Snowplows continue to focus on sidewalks, arterial roads, bus routes, the Transitway and the winter cycling network overnight, and also worked to clear residential neighbourhoods.

“There is still a lot of work to do, and it will take crews longer to get through the entire transportation network,” Jake Gravelle, area manager – Urban, Roads and Parking Services at Public Works, said. “Please remain patient.”

Gravelle says the city will continue to work on “restoring the transportation network.”

“Crews are working hard to catch up, and conditions remain hazardous, making things difficult to navigate, but rest assured, our operators are hard at work doing everything to clean up in the aftermath of this winter storm.,” Gravelle said.

Ottawa roads manager Bryden Denyes told CTV Morning Live staff worked through the night to clear roads and sidewalks.

“Today our focus will be, we’re going to be going through residential streets again today to clean those up. We’re still in the process of opening up sidewalks in some areas, just due to the heavy snow accumulation,” Denyes said.

“We’re going to be working on corners, crosswalks (and) bus stops – just trying to get everything opened up before the storm. On our priority roadways, we will be working on cleaning up, pushing some snow back trying to make some space for the upcoming snow event on the weekend.”

Denyes says with more snow on the way, crews will be looking to create space on roads “in certain areas” for the additional snow this weekend.

“Really, it’s just looking at, okay let’s get cleaned up, where do we need to make snow storage capacity in certain areas and then, really, just monitor this storm, see when it’s going to be coming in and be ready to hit the roads and sidewalks as soon as it hits.”

OC Transpo

OC Transpo is running on a normal weekday schedule on Friday, after limiting service on Thursday due to the storm.

Transit Services general manager Renée Amilcar says the Severe Storm Schedule ended Thursday night, and regular weekday service will be operating on Friday.

• Around 100 OC Transpo buses immobilized during storm: Gower

Approximately 100 OC Transpo buses got stuck in the snow on Thursday, and blowing snow and the heavy accumulation caused issues with switches and track infrastructure on O-Train Lines 1, 2 and 4. Transit Committee chair Glen Gower said most of the 100 buses immobilized by the snow were able to move again fairly quickly.

OC Transpo’s Severe Storm Schedule on Thursday included reduced routes and fewer buses on the road. Some of the 60-foot articulated buses were parked due to the storm.

Parking Ban

A winter weather parking ban will be in effect Friday to allow crews to continue clearing snow from roads and sidewalks.

The city says the winter parking ban will be in effect between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

“When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway,” Gravelle said.

Only vehicles with on-street parking permits are permitted to park on city streets during the winter weather parking ban.

Ottawa Airport

Flights are arriving and departing at the Ottawa Airport on Friday.

As of 6:30 a.m. only three flights are cancelled.

On Thursday, 28 flights were cancelled due to the storm.

Highways

Ontario Provincial Police are warning motorists that shoulders on highways and secondary roads remain icy following this week’s storm.

Police say a driver lost control in Portland, Ont. this morning and came to rest in a snowbank.

“Narrowly missing a hydro pole.”

Police say no one was hurt.