City crews move into full snowbank removal mode across residential streets

The City of Ottawa has begun removing giant snowbanks blocking city streets, after more than 40 cm of snow last week. CTV’s Dave Charbonneau reports.

As large snowbanks line residential streets across the city, some residents say they are taking it in stride, while others are just trying to navigate their streets.

For Daniela Colic, winter weather is nothing new.

“I don’t think snow is much of a problem for me,” said Colic, who is originally from eastern Europe.

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Colic says compared to snow removal where she grew up, Ottawa’s approach to snow clearing stands out.

“I think here you have a system, and you are very well organized. But I can say I think you have a budget for it, and you have, I think, services that are prepared,” she said.

The city says that system is now shifting into high gear, as large snowbanks are removed from neighbourhood streets.

“We’re full force into snow removal. Night shift and day shift,” said Bryden Denyes, the City of Ottawa’s area manager for urban roads.

Residents are asked to be patient.

“At the snow accumulation we have, the weather upcoming, we’re probably looking at a two-week cycle period to remove all the residential and arterial roadways in the downtown area,” Denyes said.

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Ottawa saw 40 centimetres of snow last week and a snow squall warning calls for five to 10 cm Monday night.

In some tight areas like Sandy Hill, the wait might be frustrating, but most residents understand it takes time with this amount of snow.

“It’s not good. Especially with the hill. I mean, it’s tough because you can’t really plow because people need to park here all the time. But like, it is what it is,” said Ottawa resident Donovan Gauthier.

“I would love to see neighbors, when they’re shoveling, to put the snow on their lawn instead of in the street, because a lot of people have street parking only,” said Sandy Hill resident Jamie Cashin.

While snowbanks can be a daily nuisance, some neighbours worry they could become a serious problem in an emergency.

“You know, if somebody has a heart attack and there’s a couple of parked cars, people are legitimately worried about whether emergency vehicles will get through,” said Old Ottawa South resident Mike Fullerton.

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And for some, confusion over snow removal signs might be adding to the frustration.

“I was in the Beachwood area. Snowbanks were going to be removed. Although from the signage, it was unclear if it was being removed yesterday during the day or today during the day,” said Ottawa resident Roger Dowdall.

Denyes says the signs are meant to give clear notice.

“When you see us put signs out that are yellow for daytime removal on a day, it means that snow is going to be removed the next day. And then when you see the red signs go up that day, it’s happening that night. So, we’re always looking at like a 24-hour moving window when we go through there,” he said.

Until the snowbanks are gone, residents are being asked to watch the signs, plan ahead, and be patient.