Winter maintenance is one of the City’s largest seasonal operations. The City’s Public Works Department has been busy preparing equipment and coordinating resources to keep the city moving through winter.
Here’s what residents and drivers need to know:
The winter overnight parking ban starts Sunday, November 1. Any vehicle parked on the street between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. will be subject to a fine of $50 and the vehicle may be towed at the expense of the owner. This includes overnight parking on City boulevards and in municipal parking lots. The only areas where overnight parking is allowed, streets that are exempt from the ban, are clearly marked with “Parking Permitted” signs. The parking ban ensures that City crews can carry out plowing and snow removal operations properly without having to navigate around parked vehicles, which can leave sections of the roads unplowed.
Residents can also help prevent damage and delays by removing obstacles from the roadside. Portable basketball nets and hockey nets should be pulled back away from the end of driveways, sidewalks, and curbs. Keeping these areas clear allows snowplows and maintenance equipment to operate more effectively.
Property owners require a seasonal structure permit to install a temporary winter shelter. Approved temporary shelters can be set-up anytime between October 1 and April 30. The permit fee is $15. Applications, site plans (indicating where the shelter will be placed), and payment can be submitted through Service Timmins.
It's also important to understand how snow clearing operations work. Winter maintenance is carried out based on service priorities and road conditions. Major roads and priority routes generally get cleared first before lower-volume residential streets. During significant snowfall, crews may make repeated passes to keep the roads clear before completing additional cleanup and snow removal.
As streets are plowed, snow is pushed to the sides of the road where it is temporarily stored. Once enough snow has accumulated, Public Works begins scheduled snow removal operations to haul the snow away to designated City snow dumps. The City informs residents of winter road maintenance with temporary “No Parking” snow removal signs, posted before snow removal begins. A weekly snow removal schedule will also be posted online at Timmins.ca.
Clearing snow off private property is subject to the City’s Snow By-law 1993-4162. Snow from private property cannot be pushed, blown, or deposited on City streets or sidewalks. Snow placed on public roads or sidewalks can create hazards for drivers and pedestrians.
Winter maintenance is an on-going operation. During major storms, crews may need additional time to respond and clear the City’s extensive road and sidewalk network. Patience, cautious driving based on road conditions, and cooperation help keep residents and Public Works crews safe.
Report a winter maintenance concern online at service.timmins.ca or directly to Service Timmins by calling 705-264-1331.
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