Bradford West Gwillimbury is ready to keep the roads clear of snow this winter.
Staff presented the 2022-2023 Winter Operations Plan to council at the Dec. 6 meeting, about a month after the plows took to the streets for the first time since the spring.
The plan, originally adopted by council in 2015, is a working policy, with minimal changes in a typical year. Its purpose is to outline how winter maintenance operations are undertaken in the town and the level of service expected by residents. It also dictates the general practices undertaken by town staff during winter weather.
Among the changes seen each year is adjustments to the routes, as new developments are opened throughout the community. This is a balancing act, staff indicated.
“Each road, sidewalk, and walkway is assigned a plow route and generally, these routes are balanced out to ensure that the lane kilometre distance is relatively similar,” the report stated. “This balance ensures that critical road corridors as well as minor corridors are maintained to meet the described levels of service based on their classification.”
Currently, the town is responsible for clearing nearly 600 km of roads and approximately 150 km of sidewalks.
The plan, as presented, doesn’t require any additional funding for snow removal operations at this time. Still, councillors were interested in some of the replacements required and what that might mean come budget time.
“There’s a few items I’ve noticed that are over replacement year and I just want to know if that’s a dire need or if that’s how things are working right now,” said Coun. Peter Ferragine. “(Do) we foresee any big budget items coming up?”
Terry Forhan, director of community services said budget requirements aren’t necessarily tied to any item’s expiry date.
“It is all about the condition of the equipment,” Forhan said. “It would be a replacement if it is forecasted, and that replacement would be based on need. “
That said, there will be a need for new equipment, and at least for now, that can’t be covered by development charges.
“I do believe there are items coming up through the budget cycle for multiple years,” he said, including some items in 2023. “
Ferragine also brought concerns from a resident regarding the amount of sand being used in the township. Determining what treatment is placed on what road remains complex, Forhan suggested, with several factors coming into play, such as gravel vs. asphalt or environmental concerns.
“It’s all about what conditions we’re dealing with on any weather event; temperature plays a factor (as does) the amount of snowfall,” he said. “Rural areas are typically treated with a sand-salt mixture – five per cent sand and salt into the sand mix. If we are applying direct salt onto gravel roadways, it will actually rapidly thaw roads and create more adverse conditions on those types of road surfaces.”
In areas of the municipality where salt is used, treated salt will continue to be piloted in 2022-2023. Treated salt features a chemical additive blended with a food-grade carbohydrate, designed to enhance performance. Some of the benefits of using treated salt outlined in the plan include better cold weather performance and 50 per cent less corrosive to equipment or infrastructure, compared to regular salt.
The operations plan also highlighted the new snow disposal facility being considered by the town. Earlier in the year, GHD Limited was retained to complete a location and feasibility study for a new snow management facility. Council should see a report and recommendations on the matter in early 2023, the report indicated.
More information on winter operations and snow clearing can be found on the town’s website, with service disruptions and updates posted to Facebook.
