Winter Maintenance

In order to keep you safe during the winter months, the Township of Southwold provides winter road and sidewalk maintenance. The level of service that these roads receive is based on the Ontario Maintenance Standards.

In order to meet these expectations, some roads are given a higher priority. The plowing and salting of routes are prioritized based upon these regulatory obligations. In general, local roads will be cleared shortly after the main routes are clear and safe.

The degree of winter maintenance will vary in accordance with the role that the road/street plays in the overall transportation network and its classification according to Minimum Maintenance Standards.

Please review our winter parking regulations and learn how you can stay safe.

Parking

Please avoid parking on streets and boulevards, especially during the winter patrol season to allow for snow removal.

Section 170 (12) of the Highway Traffic Act prohibits parking so as to interfere with the cleaning of snow from the highways and section 170 (15) provides for the removal of the offending vehicles at the owner's expense.

Section 21 (4) of The Township of Southwold By-Law 2004-4 states “Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, no vehicle shall remain parked or standing upon any part of any street in the Municipality between the hours of 3:00 A.M. and 5:00 A.M.”

Mailbox damage

The Township of Southwold will repair or replace broken mailboxes only if the damage was caused by direct physical contact with snow removal equipment. It is the property owner's responsibility to ensure that their mailbox is in good condition, as snow being discharged from a plow can damage weakened posts or improperly fastened boxes. Damage must be reported to the Public Works Department immediately upon detection. Please submit a service request to report damage to a mailbox.

Snow safety

When cleaning your driveway, never push snow across the travelled portion of the roadway. This can create a dangerous situation for motorists and violates the Highway Traffic Act. Even minor amounts of snow left behind can damage a vehicle or cause it to lose control. Remember that snow piled to the right of your driveway (when facing the road) will be carried away by the plow. Snow piled to the left will end up back in your driveway when the plow goes by.

Piles of snow from cleaning streets and driveways can be tempting. Encourage children to avoid playing near the road edge as they are not always visible to passing motorists or plow operators.

Please remember to be patient and allow extra space around snow removal equipment, as it makes winter operations safer for everyone. See snow, go slow!

Sidewalk maintenance

We maintain all of the main sidewalks year-round.