The City of Ottawa says it’s ready for what Environment Canada is predicting will be the first major storm to hit Eastern Ontario in the coming days.
Luc Gagné, the city’s manager of roads, said crews were heading out to pre-treat the roads before the arrival of an expected 15 centimetres of snow by Thursday — a forecast that was dialed back from earlier predictions of up to 25 cm.
Gagné said 18 snow removal yards across the city were topped up with salt and sand and crews were ready to respond to the snow.
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“The city’s weather patterns are changing but the safety of residents is still our No. 1 priority,” Gagné said.
Here’s a numerical look at the city’s response:
$59.6 million: City’s annual snow removal budget
177,000: Tonnes of salt spread on Ottawa roadways and sidewalks in a year
375: Snow removal staff members working during the day
244: Snow removal staff members working at night
6,000: Kilometres of roads, including asphalt and gravel, maintained by city crews
2,200: Kilometres sidewalks and pathways maintained by city crews
6,000: Bus stops maintained during the winter
13: Park and Ride lots plowed
56,000: Catch basins that may need to be opened up after the snow melts.
236: Average amount, in centimetres, of snowfall in a year
178: Average amount, in millimetres, of rain during the winter
67: Average hours of freezing rain during the winter
4.5 million: Litres of calcium chloride used to pre-wet the salt before it’s applied.
580: Pieces of equipment used in snow removal
7: Centimetres of snow accumulation necessary before residential streets are plowed
Equipment was being sent out Tuesday in advance of a storm that could bring 15 centimetres of snow.
