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Snow Clearing

Our Public Works department provides ongoing winter maintenance to Township roads and sidewalks through snow clearing and ice control. Operations may be conducted seven days per week, depending on the timing of snow and ice events. Drivers' maximum number of hours worked per day are regulated by the Province of Ontario. We work to be as effective, professional and timely as possible under these conditions.

View our winter street parking restrictions, which help enable our staff to clear all roadways.

Clearing snow from roads

In the event of a snowfall, we deploy snow clearing resources to Township roadways as soon as is practical. It could take between 16 to 48 hours after snowfall to finish clearing all residential roadways. 

We prioritize frequently used major arterial routes before moving onto local, residential and commercial areas, and rural routes. For complete details, contact us to view a copy of our Winter Maintenance Level of Service Policy and plow route map.

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are responsible for clearing and maintaining county roads within the Township.

Treating icy roadways

We deploy resources to treat icy roadways as soon as is practical after becoming aware that the roadway is icy. It could take between 12 to 24 hours to fully treat all roadways in the Township.

Winter sidewalk maintenance

We divide winter sidewalk maintenance into two categories in the villages of Cardinal and Spencerville.

Primary sidewalks

We clear all primary sidewalks of snow, when at least five cm has accumulated, within 48 hours after the storm has ended. Primary sidewalks are located in commercial and institutional zones of the community.

Secondary sidewalks

These following secondary sidewalks do not receive snow clearing and ice control operations during the winter maintenance season:

  • Meadowland Drive to the Park
  • John Street – Victoria Street to Middle Street (south side)
  • Lewis Street – James Street to John Street (east side)
  • Henry Street – James Street to Munro Street (east side)
  • Waddell Street – Dundas Street to Canal Street (east side)
  • West Street – Dundas Street to Canal Street (east side)
  • William Street – Dundas Street West to the end (east side)

Help us keep roads safe

  • Stay back from plows and never pass them
  • Leave space at intersections—if you can’t see the plow’s mirrors, they can’t see you
  • Don’t let children play on snowbanks
  • Keep fire hydrants and catch basins in front of your property free of snow and ice
  • When driving, be alert, plan ahead, slow down, and stay in control
  • Keep waste bins at least 5 to 6 feet from the road edge
  • Be patient—it takes time to clear all 392 km of roadway

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You can find answers to common questions around winter snow and ice maintenance:

Road responsibilities

 

  • Provincial highways (401 and 416) are maintained by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
  • County roads are maintained by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and connect municipalities across the region.
  • Township roads are local roads maintained by the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal.

Snow clearing operations

 

Township staff monitor the weather and patrols roadways daily, seven days a week during the winter months

Plowing starts when snow reaches eight cm or roads become icy.

We maintain 196 km of road, 392 km when counting both lanes. This includes both paved and gravel surfaces.

During a winter event, plows operate between 4 a.m. and 6 p.m. using seven designated routes. It can take up to 12 hours after a storm ends to clear all driving lanes.

Every plow route has a start and end point. Your street may be later on the route. Even if you see a plow nearby, it may not be the one assigned to your street. It can take up to 12 hours after a storm ends to clear driving lanes after a storm ends

The plow may be out of service or en route to its assigned area. County and contractor vehicles may also use Township roads to reach other sites. They are commonly mistaken for Township plows.

After the initial plow pass, we return to widen roads, expose catch basins, and clear around parked vehicles. This helps with drainage and safety.

Safety and parking

 

For safety, children should never play on snowbanks or build tunnels, forts, or slides near roads or sidewalks. Snow plow operators may not see them, especially during active snow clearing. Please supervise children and keep them a safe distance from plowing operations.

Plows cannot operate where vehicles are parked on both sides of the road. If they can’t get through, they’ll return later—possibly the next day.

  • Keep vehicles off the road during and for 48 hours after storms end
  • If you need to park on the street, make sure vehicles are staggered—not parked directly across from each other—to allow plows enough space to pass through safely.
  • Follow winter parking rules (no parking 1 a.m.–7 a.m., Nov 1–Apr 15)

No. Pushing snow onto or across the road is illegal under the Highway Traffic Act and can create dangerous conditions.

Sidewalks and driveways

 

The Township maintains sidewalks in Cardinal and Spencerville. Primary sidewalks in commercial and institutional areas are cleared within 48 hours after a storm with five cm or more of snow.

Because many Township sidewalks are close to the road, snow from passing plows can end up back on sidewalks after they’ve been cleared. This is difficult to avoid due to limited snow storage space. Crews will return to remove the snow from the sidewalk as soon as possible.

No. We do not clear private sidewalks or walkways leading from Township sidewalks.

Because of their fixed blade and wing design, plows are built to push snow to the roadside and into ditches. This is a normal part of operation and cannot be avoided.

Clearing driveway entrances is the homeowner’s responsibility. For more information, refer to our Entranceway Bylaw.

We may return to widen roads or improve visibility around snow banks, which can lead to more snow in driveways.

Mailboxes and entrances

 

Rural mailboxes must be sturdy enough to withstand the force of snow thrown during normal plowing operations and should be properly maintained throughout the year.

We are not responsible for damage caused by snow discharge. We will replace a mailbox if there is clear evidence it was hit by our plow. 

If you live on a County road, contact the County Roads Department with concerns.

Property owners are responsible for clearing snow from private driveway entrances and around mailboxes.

Emergencies and accessibility

 

In an emergency, call 9-1-1. If emergency vehicles need access, they will contact us directly and we will respond immediately.

We are not able to prioritize snow clearing for personal appointments, work, or school. All crews and equipment follow assigned routes, and diverting them would delay service across the Township.

On main streets in our villages, we work to clear access between roads and sidewalks as time and resources allow. Snowbanks in these areas may take longer to remove, but our crews make every effort to keep key walkways open and accessible.

Yes, please keep hydrants clear to help emergency crews respond quickly.

Damages and concerns

 

If grass or gravel shoulder damage occurs, contact us. We will repair it in spring. We do not repair or replace specialty concrete, paver stone, asphalt on driveways or aprons that may be damaged.

If you believe your vehicle was damaged, report it to your insurer and call us at 613-658-3055.

If it’s been more than 48 hours since the storm ended, please contact us. Crews may have been delayed due to parked cars, mechanical issues, or detours.

Please see above.

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