Toronto Snow Removal Could Take Three Weeks as City Recovers from Heavy Storms

Toronto faces a prolonged cleanup after back-to-back winter storms dumped significant snowfall across the city. Officials estimate that it could take up to three weeks to do snow removal from streets and sidewalks fully. Meanwhile, residents and commuters should prepare for additional cold weather and minor snow accumulation.

Snow Removal Timeline and Challenges

Between 16 and 23 centimeters of snow fell over the weekend, adding to the 15 to 20 centimeters from last Wednesday. The city has deployed crews around the clock to clear major roads and pedestrian pathways. According to Barbara Gray, Toronto’s general manager of transportation services, plowing will continue into Tuesday before full-scale snow removal begins.

The process is slow and labor-intensive. Crews load snow into dump trucks and transport it to designated snow routes. While plowing equipment can move at 15 km/h, snow removal vehicles operate at just 1 km/h. Vincent Sferrazza, the city’s director of operations and maintenance, described the task as “extremely time-consuming.”

Travel Advisories and Weather Conditions

Environment Canada issued a winter weather travel advisory for Pickering, Oshawa, and southern Durham Region on Monday. These areas could see five to 10 centimeters of additional snow, with gusting winds up to 60 km/h reducing visibility.

Although Toronto is not under a weather warning, minor flurries could add two centimeters of snow by the end of Monday. Meteorologist Geoff Coulson warned that colder-than-normal temperatures will persist through Thursday due to northwest winds.

Parking Bans and Traffic Disruptions

Toronto has prioritized snow removal in high-traffic areas, including sidewalks, transit stops, and emergency service locations. A major snowstorm condition remains in effect, which prohibits parking on designated snow routes and all streetcar routes.

Since Monday, Toronto police have issued 2,393 parking tickets and towed 27 vehicles. The city advises residents to avoid street parking and use public transit where possible.

Public Transit and Airport Delays

The TTC has resumed subway service on Line 1 between Bloor-Yonge and Eglinton after morning delays caused by ice on the tracks. Streetcar routes, including 501 Queen, 503 Kingston Road, and 506 Carlton, experienced temporary disruptions due to stuck vehicles blocking tracks.

GO Transit modified its schedule to accommodate storm-related delays. The Lakeshore West line now operates every 30 minutes between Union Station and Oakville, while the Lakeshore East line runs every 20 minutes between Union Station and Durham College Oshawa GO. Travelers should check the GO Transit website for updated schedules.

Toronto Pearson International Airport also experienced heavy delays. On Sunday, 22 centimeters of snow fell at the airport, bringing total accumulation to 63 centimeters since last weekend. By mid-morning Sunday, 25 percent of departing flights and 28 percent of arriving flights had been canceled. Airlines are working to clear backlogs, with over 130,000 passengers expected to travel on Monday.

Highway Conditions and Collisions

Ontario Provincial Police reported improved highway conditions on Monday compared to Sunday. However, snow remains on some ramps and shoulders, requiring continued caution. Over the weekend, Toronto police recorded 183 property damage collisions and 59 personal injury collisions. It remains unclear how many were directly linked to the weather.

Looking Ahead

While no major storms are forecasted, minor snowfall and cold temperatures will continue through the week. City officials urge residents to stay informed about travel conditions and follow parking regulations to facilitate ongoing snow removal efforts.

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-weekend-snowstorm-1.7460980
• https://www.overheretoronto.com/severe-winter-weather-disrupts-travel-across-canada
• https://www.overheretoronto.com/toronto-braces-for-heavy-snowfall-as-winter-storm-warning