Hamilton in clean-up mode following winter storms and cold weather alert

The City of Hamilton remains in clean-up mode following recent record snowfall and the Significant Weather Event it declared on Feb. 15 is still in effect.

There are a number of areas in the city and streets where snow piles and banks are blocking parking spaces and roads are very narrow and hard to navigate.

Clean-up crews continue to plow the streets and are removing snow with dump trucks.

Hamilton’s transportation director Carolyn Ryall says the estimated time for completed work is still under review. The weather event declaration gives work crews more time to clear the snow.

The Medical Officer of Health for the City issued a Cold Weather Alert for last night. Such an alert is issued when current or anticipated weather conditions are at or below minus 15 degrees Celsius or minus 20 with wind chill.

The City says crews are now focusing on clearing roads, sidewalks, transit stops and school zones and asks drivers to use caution near schools and allow extra time for travel.

As of this morning major arterial roads, primary collector roads and residential roads like King, Main, Aberdeen and Concession had been cleared, and secondary roads like Park Street and parts of Bold Street have been cleared in the centre of the roads.

Garbage collection has been postponed in some city zones until next week.

“If your waste was not accessible to collection operators, on or behind a snowbank, please bring your waste in and place back out next week on your collection day,” the City posted on its Inclement Weather Update page.

The fire department is reminding residents to clear snow away from fire hydrants to help crews in case of emergencies.

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