KAWARTHA LAKES-As one of the largest geographic municipalities in Ontario, the City of Kawartha Lakes has more than 5,400 lane kilometres of roadway to clear of snow and ice.
Officials say before the snow even begins, the roads team inspects, tests and calibrates all winter maintenance equipment to ensure it’s working safely and efficiently, and any issues identified during this process are prioritized for repair. Snowplow vehicles are used year-round (without the plow) and are maintained on an ongoing basis, so they are ready to respond quickly when winter weather arrives.
Kawartha Lakes operates over 70 snowplow routes, with winter operations typically starting at 4am during weather events. Depending on conditions, a full route can take up to ten hours to complete. Snowplow operators are each responsible for a designated route, and may need to travel along other roads (sometimes with the plow up) to reach their assigned area.
Here’s what you can expect this season, along with answers to some of the most common questions received.
When snowplows and salt trucks are deployed
Winter maintenance is guided by the Council-approved Winter Maintenance Level of Service Policy and Ontario Regulation 239/02, which say when plowing, salting and sanding must occur for different classes of roads and sidewalks. These standards include regular patrolling and weather monitoring to determine when service is required.
Why main roads get cleared first
A common question from residents is why residential streets take longer to be cleared than main roads. Provincial legislation and the Winter Maintenance Level of Service Policy set out different timeframes for clearing based on road classification. Arterial roads and priority routes are serviced first to support emergency services, public transit and higher traffic volumes. Residential streets are cleared once these higher-priority areas are made safe. There is no fixed number of times a route is cleared per event; timing depends on snowfall amounts, weather conditions and road classification requirements.
