Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Jan. 24, 2022 – Can't Windrows Be Avoided When Snow Clearing?

Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office has launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we’ll publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Jan. 24, 2022QUESTION:“Why do snowplows leave such a big wall of snow at the end of my driveway -- can't this be avoided? Why did only one direction of my street get plowed?”ANSWER:We checked in with our Winter Maintenance team at the City of Burlington to help answer these questions -- who have been doing a fantastic job in clearing our streets and sidewalks of the nearly 50 cm of snow that fell in a single snow event. We thank them for their tireless efforts!Plow operators do not intentionally block driveways; as the plow moves, it deposits snow to one side, and accumulation of snow all along the side of the road and along driveway entrances is unfortunately unavoidable.When a street gets plowed, the operator tries to plow as much of the roadway platform as possible. Unfortunately, obstructions, such as parked cars, can get in the way of the City's cleanup operations and can prevent sections or even entire streets from being plowed.When clearing their driveways, residents should try to pile the snow on the right side (if you're standing on your driveway and looking towards the street). This can help reduce the amount of snow that is pushed onto your driveway when a plow passes. Plows are not able to lift or angle their blade to avoid the snow from piling onto driveway entrances, as this would result in snow being deposited on the road -- and that ends up being hazardous for vehicles and pedestrians.The City of Burlington does not clear windrows or driveways, but it does offer a Windrow Snow Clearing Program that residents can apply for. The windrow clearing program is offered to residents who are not physically able to clear their own windrow(s). Burlington residents who meet the criteria, may apply to get assistance with removing their windrow for the next winter season, as the program registration for this season is now closed.More information about the program is available here: Windrow Snow Clearing Program.Windrow clearing contractors are dispatched to program participants' homes after the completion of all roadway plowing. Residents can expect windrows to be cleared within 36 hours after the snow stops and within 12 hours of the completion of all road plowing. Please note, this service does not include windrows left by sidewalk plows.Plowing services run from Nov. 15, 2021 until March 31, 2022 for this season.RELATED LINKS:

• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Jan. 17, 2022 – Can you Provide Details on Which 29 Burlington Parks are Getting Upgrades, Renewal or Design Work This Year?
• Mayor’s Mailbag – December 2021 Roundup – Vaccine Booster Eligibility, Clearing After Major Snowfalls
• Mayor’s Mailbag – November 2021 Roundup – Rural Broadband Project, Housing Needs, Former Robert Bateman HS Site, OLT Approval, & Loose-Leaf Collection
• Mayor’s Mailbag – October 2021 Roundup – Noise from Loud Vehicles, Complaints About Council Decision or Council/City Conduct, & Halloween Provincial Guidelines
• Mayor’s Mailbag – September 2021 Roundup – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, Where Should I Direct my City-Related Questions, & Changes to Noise Regulation of Transportation of Goods
• Mayor’s Mailbag – August 2021 Roundup – Mixed vaccines & travel, Memorializing a loved one, & Construction hours of operation
• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag — July 2021 Roundup — Fireworks regulations, Millcroft Greens development, lifting of mask mandate & high-rises at Holland Park site
• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag — June 2021 Roundup — Development applications, vaccine supply & gunk on the beach

—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist