Barrie Launches Urgent Snow Clearing Operations Amid Winter Storm

UPDATE: The City of Barrie has activated its urgent snow clearing operations as winter weather hits hard. With more than 1,600 kilometres of roads and over 600 kilometres of sidewalks under its maintenance, officials confirm that crews are responding swiftly to ensure public safety.

As snow begins to accumulate, the City’s plan is clear: snow clearing operations are triggered when approximately five centimetres of snow falls on priority roads. Cleanup on these crucial routes is expected to complete within six hours after snowfall ceases. The City emphasizes that keeping these roads as bare as possible is a top priority, ensuring safe travel for all residents.

For secondary roads, the same five-centimetre threshold applies, but cleanup may extend to about eight hours post-snowfall. The City urges residents to be patient as crews work diligently to maintain these routes.

On residential roads, the protocol shifts slightly. Crews deploy after around eight centimetres of snow accumulates, with cleanup taking 12 to 24 hours depending on conditions. These streets will be kept in a snow-packed condition, utilizing sand, salt, and other materials for traction.

Sidewalks also follow a priority-based clearing system. Priority sidewalks will be addressed once five centimetres of snow falls, while secondary ones are cleared after eight centimetres. Cleanup times for sidewalks will vary depending on snowfall amounts and available equipment.

Residents are reminded that snow removal around fire hydrants is crucial. Barrie has over 4,000 hydrants that must remain accessible. “In an emergency, every second matters,” officials state. A clear path of at least one metre (three feet) around hydrants is essential for firefighters to access them swiftly.

The City also advises that snow windrows left by plows at driveways are the responsibility of homeowners to clear. “If you see a hydrant that’s not cleared, please do the neighbourly thing and dig it out,” officials encourage.

With winter conditions expected to persist, residents are advised to stay informed of ongoing updates from the City of Barrie. As the snow continues to fall, officials are working around the clock to ensure safety and accessibility for all.

Stay tuned for further updates on the City’s snow clearing efforts and any additional weather-related advisories that may affect Barrie.