City of Brantford crews ready to tackle winter weather

BRANTFORD, ON – The City of Brantford’s winter maintenance crews are prepared to respond as seasonal weather approaches. Plows and salt trucks are serviced and ready for deployment when snow arrives, and the City’s road salt supply is fully stocked for the months ahead.

“Keeping our roads and sidewalks clear and safe is always a top priority,” said Mark Jacklyn, Director of Operational Services. “When conditions call for it, our crews are ready to work around the clock to keep Brantford moving safely through snow, slush and freezing rain.”

Ahead of a storm, City staff monitor weather systems closely and apply anti-icing materials to high-priority routes as needed. Residents are encouraged to park off-street whenever possible so plows and salters can operate safely and efficiently.

Certain streets are designated snow routes. Parking is strictly prohibited on these routes during winter events until crews finish clearing and treating the roads. Vehicles parked on snow routes during a winter event may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

“Every car off the road makes a difference,” said Rob Smith, Manager of Traffic Services. “It helps crews clear the full width of the roadway and complete work faster.”

Snow is removed where it affects visibility, parking and traffic flow, with priority given to high-traffic routes and roads leading to essential destinations such as hospitals, schools and emergency services. The City maintains more than 1,400 lane kilometres of roadway using a priority route system:

• Red Routes (Arterial Roads): Plowing begins at 5 cm of accumulation and is typically completed within 6 hours after a storm ends.
• Blue Routes (Collector Roads): Plowing begins at 8 cm of accumulation and is completed within 12 hours.
• Green Routes (Residential Roads): Plowing begins at 8 cm of accumulation and is generally completed within 16 hours.

Once a storm ends, crews focus on snow removal in the Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA), along with sidewalks fronting City-owned properties and facilities, municipal parking lots, signalized intersections, pedestrian crossings, and bike lanes. Clean-up continues on major routes, bridges and underpasses.

Property owners and occupants must clear snow and ice from adjacent sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall ends, as outlined in Municipal Code Articles 614.8.1 and 614.8.3.

To allow crews to complete city-wide clearing, individual customer service requests are temporarily paused during the first 24 hours after a major snowfall. Once a snow-free 24-hour period has passed, staff resume responding to individual requests through the City’s Customer Service team.

Residents can stay informed this winter by subscribing to receive Winter Control email updates at Brantford.ca/Subscribe. For more information about winter maintenance and snow clearing operations, visit Brantford.ca/WinterControl.

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