The following winter operations are undertaken by the Public Works and Engineering Department:
- Snow plowing – roadways and sidewalks (within the program)
- Sanding/salting
- Snow removal
- Clearing of laneways and bus stops
Service Requests
A service request can be made online by submitting a Service Request Form, or by emailing pwt@cityssm.on.ca, or by calling 705-759-5201.
A work order will be created to track and properly direct the request to the appropriate Area Coordinator for follow-up.
If the work request is an emergency or critical in nature, please call the PWT dispatcher directly at 705-759-5201 (available 24 hrs/day).
Sidewalk Snow Plowing
A new Sidewalk Snow Plowing Policy was approved by City Council in June 2016. Each route at the time has been established based on the criteria identified in the policy. Some of the criteria considered includes traffic volumes, nearby school(s), transit route, etc. although the policy outlines other important factors.
The Sidewalk Plowing Map allows residents enter an address in the search bar and zoom in to a specific location see if it will be maintained in the winter.
Each Fall, a review of requests for additions or deletions to the sidewalk plowing program takes place. The deadline for amendments for the upcoming winter season is October 31. You can submit a request for sidewalk maintenance by calling Public Works at 705-759-5201. A work order will be created and reviewed by Public Works for consideration in the upcoming program.
FAQ
When does Winter Operations start for Public Works?
The winter season officially starts in the first week of November.
How many kilometers of road are maintained during the winter?
A total of approximately 1225 lane kilometers of road are sanded, salted and cleared of snow.
How does Public Works divide up the sanding and salting responsibilities?
Four (4) shift Supervisors along with 25 Operators are split into four groups to cover sanding and salting throughout the city 24/7. Included in this group is a grader operator that will cover the hills when a snow event dictates plowing is required. The sand/salt operators are each assigned an area where they concentrate their work: north, downtown, east and west. One (1) sander is also scheduled from 4 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday to Friday to sand municipal parking lots.
How do the plow routes get organized?
Along with the core group mentioned above, the city is divided into three (3) geographical areas to accommodate street, sidewalk, laneway and bus stop clearing. These areas are supervised by Area Coordinators which include 18 plow routes, 7 loader routes and 9 sidewalk routes.
How are the shifts organized?
Thirty-six (36) street plowing operators are divided into two (2) groups. Each of these groups alternate working an 8-hour day shift and an 8-hour night shift, seven (7) days a week, Depending on the timing of the event, they may be required to work extended hours during the day or be called out early for a night shift.
How do laneways and bus stops get cleared?
Seven (7) loader routes are covered by operators that work an 8-hour shift. During a snow event they are called in at 4 a.m. to begin clearing the laneways and bus stops. When they are not handling a snow event, the loader operators are paired with a dump truck to clear snow piles to enable snow storage for the next event (at key visibility / problem drainage locations). These operators also work weekends when a snow event requires it.
How do sidewalks get maintained during the winter?
Nine (9) sidewalk routes are covered by a group of operators that work an 8-hour day beginning at 4 a.m. Monday to Friday. When a snow event requires it, these Operators work weekends, as well.
Which sidewalks get plowed?
The City has a Sidewalk Snow Plowing Policy revised and approved by Council in 2016. The purpose of the policy is to give pedestrians a continuous network of plowed sidewalks that originate and terminate in neighbourhood, school or commercial areas. Criteria was established to assess the maintenance requirements with the key considerations including: street classification and traffic volumes, school routes, areas surrounding senior complexes or other sensitive land uses or transit routes. There are other factors to consider such as – only one side of a residential street shall have its sidewalk plowed, if it does not provide a continuous route, if there is a significant vertical drop abutting the sidewalk, or if the sidewalk circles back onto itself.
Important to note: after October 31 each year, sidewalks will not be added to the program, as establishing routes that can be accomplished in one shift is onerous and once the season commences, additions can cause great difficulty. The sidewalk plowing routes are reviewed once annually and any changes required or requested throughout the year, are evaluated in comparison to the criteria.
How many kilometers of sidewalk get plowed?
For the winter of 2022-2023, our sidewalk program includes 217 km of the total 370 km in the City. The winter maintenance program includes plowing, sanding and sweeping the sidewalks in the Spring.
Is it possible to send workers home in advance of a snow event and have double force out during an event?
Public Works equipment inventory only provides coverage for a one-shift complement as listed below.
Can the amount of snow be “more balanced” between my neighbour across the street and my driveway?
The routes are established based on traffic patterns and snow is most typically pushed to the right, which doesn’t allow the operators in most cases, to alter where the snow is deposited.
Why do I get so much snow in my driveway – I live on a corner lot?
Many corner lot complaints are due to the fact that the operator has to remove snow from the entire intersection area, as well as usually larger stretches of roadway to carry along, which gets deposited in the first driveway it encounters. It does not get done intentionally, nor is it avoidable.
Will the end of my driveway be cleared if there is a large windrow at the end?
If the snow / ice is deposited there from a standard snow plowing exercise (ie. during or following a snow event), the City will not be removing the windrow regardless of height. When Public Works undertakes a “cutting” exercise (ie. scrapping down significant snowpack on the road), Supervisors will assess whether or not a loader will be used to clear the end of the private driveways. Social Services is the lead organization with an annual service provider selected to offer this service for seniors and other qualifying individuals.
Where do I place my garbage and recycling carts on collection day during the winter?
The garbage and recycling carts should be placed behind the curb, and clear of the sidewalk. Generally, the most preferred place will be in the driveway, at least 3 feet away from a snowbank or parked vehicle. Do not place garbage or recycling carts on the snowbank(s) as they will not be collected.
When do my carts need to be at the curb?
Your carts need to be at the curb for 7:00 a.m. on their respective collection days. During the winter, residents are asked to place their carts out on the morning of collection. This is beneficial to the evening operators for snow plowing and snow removal purposes. For the same reason, residents are also asked to bring their carts in as soon as possible after they are collected. Note: If your cart is on the roadway, the snow plow will have to go around it and your roadway will narrow.
What is a Significant Weather Event? How will I know a Significant Weather Event has been declared?
A significant weather event is an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roadways within a municipality. Weather Hazards are determined by Environment Canada as meeting the criteria for the issuance of an alert under its Public Weather Alerting Program.
Minimum Maintenance Standards (‘MMS’) O. Reg. 239/02 in 2018, allow municipalities to declare a significant weather event when:A weather event is approaching or occurring;
- The weather event has the potential to pose significant danger to users of the highways (roadways) which they have authority over; and
- Environment Canada has issued an Alert.
Public Works staff continue to monitor the weather and if deemed practicable by the municipality, resources may be deployed to address snow accumulation/icy conditions on the roadways or sidewalks. The declaration of the significant event then deems all roadways to be in a state of repair with regard to snow accumulation/icy conditions until the declaration is ended by the municipality.
An event will be declared by one or more of the following:
- By posting a notice on the municipality’s website.
- By making an announcement on a social media platform, such as Facebook or Twitter.
- By sending a press release or similar communication to internet, newspaper, radio or television media.
- By notification through the municipality’s police service.
- By any other notification method required in a by-law of the municipality.
Ultimately, during the period of time that the Significant Event is declared the standards for roadway and sidewalk maintenance are affected and drivers should either avoid using or use extreme caution if using the transportation network.
Residents are reminded to comply with the winter parking ban from midnight to 6 a.m. but are also asked to not park on the roadways during daytime snow events as the plows may not be able to safely access the street.
Why would the City declare a Significant Weather Event?
When the City declares a significant weather event, the declaration suspends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives until the municipality declares the significant weather event has ended. During the course of a declared significant weather event, the standard for addressing winter maintenance is to monitor the weather and to deploy resources to address the issue starting from the time the municipality deems it appropriate to do so. When the municipality has declared the event has ended, the standard timelines for winter maintenance activities will begin.
Under what conditions would a municipality declare a Significant Weather Event?
- Significant snow accumulation;
- Ice accumulation on roadways or sidewalks;
- Extreme cold temperatures reducing the effectiveness of winter operations; and
- High winds and blowing snow.
Does a declaration mean the municipality is reducing its level of service?
No. A declaration of a significant weather event is not notice of a reduced level of service. The declaration is to notify the public that due to the current or forecast conditions, caution should be observed when travelling on the municipality’s roads and sidewalks and that it may take longer than usual to bring the condition of the roads and sidewalks back to standard conditions.
Does a declaration mean the municipality is closing roads?
No. A declaration of a significant weather event is not notice of a road closure. Road closures will be communicated separately in one or more of the following ways:
- By posting a notice on the municipality’s website www.saultstemarie.ca
- By making an announcement on a social media platform, such as Facebook or Instagram.
- By sending a press release to local media partners
- By notification through the municipality’s police service
- By any other notification method required in a by-law of the municipality.
How will I know if the City of Sault Ste. Marie has declared a Significant Weather Event?
- By posting a notice on the municipality’s website www.saultstemarie.ca
- By making an announcement on a social media platform, such as Facebook or Instagram.
- By sending a press release to local media partners
- By notification through the municipality’s police service
- By any other notification method required in a by-law of the municipality.
Who do I contact for a service request?
All Emergency or critical requests should be called in to a 24/7 Dispatch service at Public Works – (705) 759-5201. A work order will be created to track and properly direct the service request to the appropriate Area Coordinator.
Other service requests can also be submitted by phone to: (705) 759-5201, by email at: pwt@cityssm.on.ca or through the Public Works page on the City website at: Public Works Service Request.
A work order will be created to track and properly direct the service request to the appropriate Area Coordinator and or Supervisor.