Snow clearing begins in downtown Sudbury

As Greater Sudbury begins to clear snow from downtown, we also have an update on efforts to keep sidewalks clear for those who need to use them in the city.

With the snow starting to pile high, Greater Sudbury has started to clear snow downtown, to the relief of many people, including those who rely on cleared sidewalks to get around.

Snow clearing started Monday to increase lane widths and improve sightlines that have been narrowed and heightened by snowbanks.

“We do that between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m. just to minimize the disruptions downtown and it’s a two-week schedule,” said Dan Thibeault, the city’s manager of linear infrastructure and technical support services.

Snow is also being cleared to improve access to parking spots and meters downtown.

“You can find on the city’s website, underneath the ‘public notices and news’ section, there is a more detailed plan there of the downtown snow removal,” said Thibeault.

Greater Sudbury Safer Sidewalks is a volunteer group hoping that a pilot project for enhanced snow removal along sidewalks becomes permanent.

At this point, its future is uncertain with it not being approved for next winter.

“I am hopeful,” said group cofounder Maria Bozzo.

Improved standards

“It would be a step backwards if we didn’t continue with the improved service standards and certainly would contribute to our age-friendly reputation to continue it and make sidewalks more accessible in the wintertime and safe.”

The city said it doesn’t have full coverage for sidewalk clearing on weekends when there is 8 cm of snow or more.

“They try to schedule the staff early Monday morning to come in and have that ready for the Monday traffic basically,” said Thibeault.

The city currently clears more than 350 kilometres of sidewalk.

When it comes to snowbanks, residents are responsible for sightline issues around their properties, but if there are concerns at intersections, those can be reported to 311.