CORNWALL – The City of Cornwall has suspended time-based snow clearing rules for roads and sidewalks as the region gets whacked with a winter storm.
A snowfall warning is in effect with up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of snow expected to accumulate by Saturday morning. Environment Canada says peaks snowfall rates of 1-2 centimeters per hour (0.4-0.8 inches).
The city announced Friday afternoon that it was declaring a “significant weather event” and suspended the minimum maintenance standards for road clearing, which it’s allowed to do under municipal law.
In an interview with Cornwall Newswatch, Municipal Works Division Manager Michael Fawthrop believes it’s the first time in recent memory they’ve had to do this.
Fawthrop says things are going well with plowing and salting so far.
The suspension of the maintenance standards won’t change how the city clears snow – it will only affect how long it takes.
Under normal situations, the minimum maintenance standard is clearing 5 or more centimeters off a Class 1 (arterial) road – like a Pitt Street or Brookdale Avenue – within 6 hours after the snow stops.
For Class 2 (collector) roads – like Queen Street – it would be 16 hours to clear 8 or more centimeters after the snow stops.
Sidewalks are usually cleared within 48 hours after a storm stops.