Winter Maintenance

Operations staff work very hard to keep our roads and sidewalks safe for drivers and pedestrians. Please be patient and understand that we cannot plow or sand every road at the same time. Some roads and sidewalks as well as intersections and school zones are high priority and will receive attention first.

Determined by both the speed limit that applies to the road and the average daily traffic, all roads in Ontario are rated as a Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5 or Class 6 road. Class 1 roads are the highest priority and Class 6 roads are the lowest priority. The roads in Parry Sound are Class 3, 4, 5 or 6. If you want to know what class a road is, please see the Road Classification Table.

Staff will patrol our roads to see if they are:

• Bare and dry
• Bare and wet
• Track bare
• Center bare
• Snow covered
• Snow packed

During winter events such as snow flurries, squalls or freezing rain, staff will base their course of action on:

• Snow accumulation
• Drifting snow
• Ice covered roads
• Spot ice
• Black ice
• Frost
• Slush

Seasonal Closure of Specified Sidewalks 

At the December 7, 2021 meeting, Council approved the seasonal closure of specified sidewalks with By-law 2021-7202. The following sidewalks will be closed from November 1 each year and re-opened on April 1 of each year: Park Lane, Kristen Heights, Avenue Road, Farrer Street, and Rosetta Street from James Street south side.

If you have any questions related to winter maintenance, please contact the Public Works Department.