Winter Operations

Roads are patrolled regularly during the winter months to monitor conditions and deploy equipment and materials as necessary. Winter road maintenance is completed in accordance with the Ontario Minimum Maintenance Standards for Ontario Highways to ensure Town streets and sidewalks remain safe and passable for motorists and pedestrians.

The following is the general priority for snow plowing and sanding/salting operations within designated plow routes:

• Priority 1 - Major Collector Roads and Bridges
• Priority 2 - Collector Roads
• Priority 3 - Local Roads, Side Streets and cul-de-sacs

When plowing operations begin, operators are following routes that have been designed to minimize duplication and maximize efficiency. The length of time to complete a route varies however, it may take approximately 6 to 8 hours to complete.

We do our best to clear snow and ice quickly from the roadways. But with 320 km of Town roadways and 60 km of sidewalks to care for, winter control can be a challenging task and there are a number of factors that can impact snow clearing operations, including:

• the severity of snow and ice accumulation
• temperature or forecasts
• precipitation
• time of day
• available resources
• motorists trying to pass or following too closely behind snow plows
• vehicles parked on the street or blocking sidewalks

For road maintenance inquiries or concerns on Highway 11 and Highway 118 (east), please call 1-866-527-8216.

Who maintains the road?

 The Town does not offer snow clearing assistance on private property.

• You may be able to get assistance from a family member, friend or neighbour.
• There are also private snow clearing businesses in the area that provide this service. Please check online for listings.
• Snow Angels Canada is an alternative, community-fueled tool to connect neighbours and their neighbourhood requesting shoveling or to find others in need of such assistance. Visit Snow Angels Canada for more information.
• Lend a hand to those who may not be able to shovel their own snow. Take enough breaks and don't push yourself too hard.

By clearing snow away from storm sewer catch basins near your property, you may help prevent street flooding and icy road conditions.

Keep children informed about winter road safety.

• Remind children not to climb, play, dig forts or tunnels near roads or in snow banks as cars and snowplows can come by at any moment.

Pile all snow from your driveway and sidewalks on your property, not on the road.

• Section 181 of the Highway Traffic Act prohibits the depositing of snow and ice on a roadway without written permission from the Ministry or other road authority. Failure to comply with the Highway Traffic Act may result in a fine being issued to the property owner or contractor.

In order to minimize snow from being pushed back into driveways, do not park on roadways during the winter months. Plows need to move around parked vehicles, which create snow build-up. Ultimately when the vehicles are moved and further plowing is done, snow build-up is pushed back into driveways.

• When clearing snow from your driveway, pile the snow on the right side of the driveway (looking towards the street from driveway). This will reduce the amount of snow pushed back into your driveway when the street is plowed. Property owners are responsible for keeping snow banks low at the end of their driveways.
• We understand your frustration when you clear your driveway and then a snowplow comes by and leaves a pile of snow - a windrow. The priority of our work crews is clearing the travelled portion of the road. The only place to move the snow is onto the boulevard, which includes driveways. As a result, snow left at the bottom of driveways is unavoidable. Unfortunately, it is impossible to clear snow from the roads without leaving one.

Drive smart - give yourself extra time and space.

Give snow plows plenty of room and remember they may need to back up.

• When approaching a snow plow, keep your headlights on and stay to the righ

For more information on status of roads in the area, please visit the following websites:

99.5 Moose FM CFBG

102.3 Country 102 CJMU

Ministry of Transportation - Winter Road Conditions

Trillium Lakelands District School Board - Bus Cancellations

Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board - Bus Cancellations

Clear snow away from fire hydrants so they are visible and accessible to emergency services personnel at all times.

• If your property abuts a fire hydrant, please help to keep your community safe by clearing a path to and around the hydrant as part of your routine snow management activity.
• If you are unable to keep the fire hydrant clear or have any questions about hydrant maintenance, contact the District Municipality of Muskoka - Water and Sewer

Heavy snow accumulation, icy roads and/or poor visibility during winter maintenance activities can make it difficult for snow plow operations to avoid waste and recycling collection items placed alongside the roadway or sidewalk. To help make collection as easy and efficient as possible during the winter months, residents are reminded of the following:

Container Placement on Driveway

Place your collectible materials on the right side of the driveway approximately 1.5 metres (5 feet) from the curbside. The "right" side is the right side of your driveway when you stand at the curb facing the road. Avoid placing your waste and recycling containers on roadways, boulevards and sidewalks, as they will:

• block oncoming traffic;
• prevent snow plows from properly clearing the roadway and sidewalk;
• create a hazard as they could get hit by vehicles or taken away by snow plows; and
• prevent waste materials from being knocked over or buried during snow clearing operations.

Also avoid placing your waste and recycling containers behind or on top of snowbanks to eliminate the potential risk of a dangerous slip or fall onto the pavement for you or the waste collectors.

Early Morning Container Placement

Waste collection items are best put out early in the morning otherwise waste containers could get buried during a snowfall and as a result may not be collected. Retrieve your waste containers soon after collection. Empty containers are vulnerable to winds and ongoing snow plow operations creating a hazard if knocked into the sidewalk or roadway. Write your address on your containers so if found, they can be easily returned to you. Download your custom collection schedule and receive access to updates and notifications by downloading the District Municipality of Muskoka’s mobile app search for “Muskoka Recycles” in the app store.

Canada Post is responsible for clearing the snow and ice around Community Mailboxes. Please contact Canada Post Customer Service at 1-800-267-1177 for any maintenance issues.

• Please assist snow plow operators by making sure your rural mailbox is in a good state of repair and not an obstruction. Review Canada Post guidelines for proper placement and maintenance of rural mailboxes that meet specifications and road safety criteria before installation.
• Mailboxes damaged by snow load from the snow plow equipment will not be replaced by the municipality.
• As a courtesy the municipality will replace a damaged mailbox if the damage is deemed to result from a direct hit by snow plow equipment. Please contact the Public Works Department at 705-645-5264 and inspection and assessment will be made by the Public Works Foreman.

Do not park on roadways during the winter months. Parked vehicles can prevent snow removal crews from clearing the roads in a timely and efficient manner.

• Park your car within your driveway so your vehicle does not extend onto the street or sidewalk as this may obstruct snow clearing operations.
• Vehicles obstructing snow clearing operations may be subject to a fine and may be towed at the owner's expense.
• Please be advised that parking on all municipal streets and parking lots (with the exception of the Hiram Street Parking Lot designated 24-hour maximum time limit parking spaces) any day from October 16 - April 15 between the hours of 2:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. is prohibited to facilitate snow clearing or removal.
• For further information about parking restrictions, please contact the By-Law Enforcement Branch at 705-645-5264.

The Town of Bracebridge By-Law 2020-079 (amends By-Law 2017-070) requires that every owner of a premises within the Business Improvement Area (BIA) shall ensure that all snow and ice has been cleared from the sidewalk area adjacent to the premises during business hours and deposited at the curb area of the sidewalk near the roadway.

As a courtesy, the Town will have a sidewalk plow make one pass on sidewalks in the BIA to assist these property owners with snow removal.

By-Law 2017-070 A By-Law to Regulate the Deposting of Snow or Ice on any Town Highway within the Municipality.