We’ve had a lot of questions lately about snow clearing, so we want clarify something. We have no intention of issuing fines for clearing snow on roadways, sidewalks, and pathways, but we do want to hear from you. Whether you walk, bike, or drive, we want you to tell us what trouble spots you’re experiencing.
This way, we know about them and can do something about them.
The best way to do this is by using our online form or contacting 311. When you do that, it creates a recorded service request, and follow-up actions can be tracked. That information is also used to help us identify and investigate areas that routinely generate service requests so we can determine what we can do better.
During a major snow clearing operation, crews will clear over 3,000 kms of sidewalks and pathways. They clear sidewalks and pathways based on a snow clearing priority system, following the Council-approved Snow Clearing & Ice Control Policy.
Crews have to use smaller snow clearing equipment to clear sidewalks and pathways, including protected bike paths on roadways, and it can take a number of days to complete the entire operation.
Throughout the winter season, crews will clear sidewalks and pathways to a compacted surface, rather than clearing to the bare pavement (with the exception of sidewalks in the Downtown area, whenever conditions allow). This is because ice and other hard or dense snow accumulation can damage our sidewalk plows and can take them out of operation for lengthy periods of time.
We want to make sure our roadways, sidewalks, and pathways remain passable. This is why crews routinely monitor their condition throughout the winter months, especially following days with high winds, are respond accordingly.
As much as we’d like to be everywhere at the same time, that just isn’t possible and it does take us some time to clear every public sidewalk and pathway throughout the city when a major operation is called. It’s an absolutely huge undertaking and we do appreciate your understanding.
We also appreciate it when Winnipeggers shovel their public sidewalks. It’s a friendly, neighbourly thing to do, and we will not fine a property owner for doing so.