‘All hands on deck’: Incoming storm to stretch Toronto’s snow clearing capacity
Posted March 3, 2023 10:55 am.
Last Updated March 3, 2023 4:46 pm.
The winter storm ready to hit Toronto on Friday is triggering an “all hands on deck” approach that will see the city’s snow clearing capabilities at full capacity, according to city officials.
The latest winter wallop is the third snowstorm to blanket the city in the last nine days, and it is expected to bring the heaviest snow so far this winter.
“All 1,100 pieces of equipment, including salters, plows, sidewalk machines, will all be deployed for this operation,” says Vince Sferrazza with Toronto Transportation. “Because of the intensity and the volume this will require multiple passes of plowing.”
He says crews will be working throughout the entire weekend. In addition to clearing, the incoming storm will also require snow removal where trucks transport snow piles to larger snow dumps.
“We don’t often do it,” says Sferrazza, in reference to the removal process. “Because of the amount of snow that we anticipate, there won’t be the capacity on our road allowances to store all the snow.”
Up to 30 centimetres of accumulation is possible by Saturday morning and the snowfall rates could reach six centimetres per hour during the peak of the storm. The heaviest snowfall is expected between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The big snow storm bearing down on Toronto is triggering an “all hands on deck” operation. Toronto Transportation says all 1100 salters, plows, sidewalk machines etc will be mobilized. Snow removal will also be needed with snow piles actually trucked away to snow dumps. pic.twitter.com/DOKKbyIx0Y
— Kevin Misener (@Kevin_Misener) March 3, 2023
The city’s snow clearing efforts were sharply criticized by some following the winter storm on Monday. Councillor Josh Matlow called the situation on Toronto’s streets and sidewalks “unacceptable” and pinned much of the blame on previous mayor John Tory, adding the city’s snow removal contracts should be re-evaluated.
Matlow said the situation has been especially difficult on segments of the population who may struggle with mobility for a variety of reasons.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie says the city has new contracts in place this winter that are more flexible, accountable, and use technology for “improved levels of service.”
“In previous years, the city only began plowing on local roads after five to eight centimetres of accumulation,” says McKelvie. “This year, the city has dispatched plows as soon as possible when snow has started sticking to the ground.”
“We’re tracking every single piece of equipment with updated GPS. And we have dedicated supervisors that are watching 24/7.”
The warming centre at Metro Hall is currently open and the City says three other centres at Scarborough Civic Centre, Mitchell Field Community Centre, Cecil Community Centre will open starting at 7 p.m. Friday night.
With files from CityNews reporter Kevin Misener
