Snow clearing operations and response times
Snow clearing and de-icing operations are initiated as soon as precipitation starts on the main arteries and collectors. Side streets are cleared once there has been an accumulation of 5 cm on the ground, in accordance with the established order of priorities.
Snow clearing routes are based on ensuring your safety, operational efficiency and the fastest possible response times.
After any precipitation, allow:
Snow clearing operations are based on ensuring your safety, operational efficiency and the fastest possible response times.
Priority is given to roads with the most traffic:
1. Main arteries
These are the city's main axes.
2. Collectors
Collectors are those roads that link residential streets and the main arteries, streets near schools, daycares, bus stops, churches, health care centres and streets with steep hills.
3. Side streets, sidewalks and multi-purpose pathways (simultaneously)
Residential streets with little traffic are considered side streets.
Gatineau maintains approximately 650 km of sidewalks over the winter. The policy on snow clearing generally provides for the maintenance of one out of two sidewalks along the main arteries, collectors and side streets.
Sidewalks are cleared continuously following an accumulation of 5 cm on the ground or they become icy.
Response time: 24 hours to complete operations following the end of precipitations.
Sidewalks along side streets that meet the following criteria are not maintained:
An operation that uses snow clearing vehicles such as snow blowers and graders to push snow to the side of arteries.
An operation that involves spreading melters, abrasives or a mix of the two. The type of material used depends on the condition of the road or sidewalk and on the temperature. Learn more about salt spreading and management.
An operation that involves cutting or scraping the layers of hardened snow and ice on an artery or sidewalk to remove those layers. The operation requires the use of melters and equipment.
An operation that involves blowing snow banks* to the side of the road or into a truck to be taken to a snow dump. Learn more about blowing snow to the side.
* Snow bank or windrow: the pile of snow that is created when a grader passes by.
| Condition | Operation | Order of priority |
|---|---|---|
| Slippery roads | Spreading of melters and abrasives | Main arteries, collectors, school corridors, bus routes, side streets (stops and dangerous hills) |
| Start of snow precipitation | Clearing | 1. main arteries; and 2. collectors (school corridors and bus routes). |
| Accumulation of 5 cm | Clearing |
1. main arteries; 2. collectors (school corridors and bus routes); and 3. side streets and sidewalks. |
| Snow precipitation of less than 25 cm | Clearing completed within 16 hours following the end of the precipitation | 1. main arteries; 2. collectors (school corridors and bus routes) and side streets; |
| Clearing completed within 24 hours following the end of the precipitation | 3. sidewalks. | |
| Snow precipitation of more than 25 cm | Clearing completed within 24 hours following the end of the precipitation | All roads, streets and sidewalks |
| Following a precipitation | Blowing to the side and grading (street widening) | Wherever necessary |
More than 230 blue collar employees are ready to intervene during snow clearing operations, along with a few contractors to help out.
More than 3,000 km to clear, including:
More than 130 pieces of equipment used for snow clearing and maintaining the roads, including:
6 snow dumps:
Recognized for its quality of life, Gatineau is a city of 291,000 inhabitants. It is located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, and extends east and west of the Gatineau River.