Snow clearing expected to take weeks as storm cleanup continues

Ottawa road crews will be working long hours to clean up after nearly 70 cm of snow was dumped on the capital in less than a week. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

Snow removal efforts continue across the nation’s capital after nearly 70 centimetres of snow fell in the past week, leaving streets clogged and sidewalks buried.

City crews are working around the clock to clear the accumulation, but the task is expected to take weeks.

“We’ve had two busy storms and we’ve moved into full snow removal operations where we’re cleaning all the snow off the roads and sidewalks,” said Bryden Denyes, area roads manager with the City of Ottawa.

“With the sheer volume of snow that we’ve received, it’s going to take weeks to clean up.”

Denyes says around 500 pieces of equipment, including plows and snow blowers, are operating in full force, with large snowbanks being transported to dump sites.

Coloured signs posted in soon-to-be-removed snowbanks indicate snow removal times: yellow for removal between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., red for 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and green for overnight removal in business improvement areas, like the Byward Market.

“We really ask residents to look for the signs because if we are operating a removal that day or night and your car is parked there, you will receive a ticket and you will be towed. But you will be towed to a nearby street, not an impound lot,” said Denyes.

The heavy snowfall has also created hazards beyond the roads. Brad Pringle, of Pringle Singles Roofing, says his team has been working nonstop to clear snow and ice from rooftops, which can help to prevent ice damming and leaks.

“We’ve been clearing off around five houses each day, it’s busy,” Pringle said. “We have about 25 bookings right now, we’re booked-up until Sunday and the calls are still coming in.”

Firefighters are reminding residents to keep fire hydrants accessible and to clear snow from furnace and hot water tank vents to prevent carbon monoxide.

“Since Friday, firefighters responded to over 80 calls for carbon monoxide, or an odour of natural gas in the home. They’ve been going out constantly, and they’ve been shovelling out vents on the sides of the houses for residents across the city,” said spokesperson Nick DeFazio with Ottawa Fire Services.

“We’re also asking our residents to check on their neighbours and check on their vents too. It’s very important right now to check your carbon monoxide alarms. Check the batteries, test them and you should have one on each floor and outside all of your sleeping areas.”

On Monday, firefighters had to evacuate an apartment complex in Little Italy after snow blocked heating equipment, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

Those who’s vehicles have been towed can contact the city at 311 to locate them.

The city is also encouraging homeowners to clear hydrants near their properties and offers a ‘Hydro-Hero’ certificate program to recognize children who help with the task.