Snowplowing
Snowplowing
Winter Maintenance Policy
The Winter Maintenance Policy outlines how the City responds to winter weather events to help motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles move safely around Kingston.
The City’s 37 road plows and 16 sidewalk plows work continuously during winter weather events to clear over 1,800 km of road lanes and 600 km of sidewalks.
Road Plowing
Road plowing is based on a priority system, with main arterial roads cleared first. Plows may do multiple passes before moving to collector roads and local residential roads.
During normal winter conditions, the target to clear roads once the precipitation ends includes:
- Main arterial roads such as Princess Street, Joyceville Road and Gardiners Road within 4 hours.
- Collector roads and bus routes such as Norman Rogers Drive, Gore Road and Unity Road within 6 hours.
- Local residential roads such as Aragon Road, Greenwood Park Drive and Welborne Avenue within 16 hours.
Sidewalk Plowing
Sidewalk plowing is based on a priority system, with high pedestrian volume sidewalks and sidewalks next to high volume roads cleared first.
During normal winter conditions, the target to clear sidewalks once the precipitation ends includes:
- High volume sidewalks within 24 hours.
- Residential sidewalks within 48 hours.
Declaring a Significant Weather Event
The City may declare a winter weather event significant after reviewing a regional alert from Environment Canada and determining that the weather in Kingston warrants such a declaration. During a significant weather event, residents will be advised to use extra caution and will be reminded winter maintenance service levels may not be met.
What makes a weather event significant?
Provincial legislation was updated in 2018 to allow municipalities to declare a significant weather event when it is expected winter maintenance service levels may not be met.
A significant weather event is defined as an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to the users of highways [streets] within a municipality. When a weather hazard is expected, Environment Canada will issue a regional alert.
Snowplow Tracker
The Snowplow Tracker helps you see the progress of snowplows clearing City roads and sidewalks. Different colours on the map indicate the last time a road was plowed. Click the image below to launch the Snowplow Tracker.
Snowplow Tracker FAQs
A plow is on my road. Why isn’t it showing on the map?
The Snowplow Tracker only shows plows when they are actively clearing snow. The City’s plows are multipurpose vehicles and used for a variety of other activities including sanding, salting, and winter maintenance operations.
I see a plow close to me on the map. Why isn’t it coming to my neighbourhood?
Road plowing is based on a priority system. Main roads are cleared first. Plows may do multiple passes before moving on to residential areas, depending on the winter weather event. See the City’s Winter Maintenance Policy to learn more about plowing priorities.
How often does the map update?
Both sidewalk and road plows send frequent location updates, approximately every 15 minutes. For the road plows, the system tracks when the plow has the blade down and is in motion. For the sidewalk plows, the system tracks when the plow is in motion. Different colours on the map indicate when a road was last plowed and updates continuously with the most recent data.
Winter Parking Bylaw
The City uses on-street parking restrictions to respond quickly to winter weather. Plows are large vehicles, and it is safer, easier and more efficient to clear streets without vehicles parked on them.
During the months of January and February - when we typically see more frequent snowstorms, which require snow plowing and snow removal operations. On-street parking is not permitted at all between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. and from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. on the streets that surround Kingston General Hospital.
During the months of March and December - when we typically see fewer snowstorms, on-street parking will only be banned if required due to the weather.
For more information visit the Winter Parking webpage.
Snowplow safety
- Drivers need room to do their job. Be patient and keep a safe distance from plows. When travelling behind a plow, leave at least three car lengths of distance between you and the plow.
- Do not drive beside a plow and NEVER pass a plow.
- If a plow is approaching from the opposite direction, shift to the right of your lane to give some extra leeway. Plows need to clear the centre of the road too.
- If you are on a multiple lane road (such as Gardiners Road) and there is a line of plows working, do not attempt to pass. Be patient and follow the plows at a safe distance.
- Pedestrians: if you see a snowplow, assume the driver has not seen you and move off the sidewalk into a yard where you can be seen.
- Parents: children should be reminded not to play on, or build forts, in roadside snowbanks and to not approach a plow, even if it has stopped.