Barely launched, the big spring cleaning may have to be suspended this week due to the snowfall that is expected to fall on Montreal. The City assures that it will be ready to clear it if necessary, although the precipitation on the ground risks melting quickly.
“We will necessarily have to suspend if there is an accumulation on the ground,” says the administrative spokesperson for the municipality, Philippe Sabourin on this subject. Its teams launched with great fanfare Monday the big spring cleaning, which will take place over a period of four to six weeks and will cost taxpayers 50 million, with 600 maintenance vehicles deployed.
As of Wednesday evening, however, the metropolis could receive around ten or even fifteen centimeters of snow due to a low pressure system coming from Colorado, according to current forecasts. On its website, MétéoMédia, however, predicts that “the snow will be melting or mixed with rain.”
In short, everything could melt quite quickly, but nothing is guaranteed, says Mr. Sabourin. “In any case, it will slow us down. We might have to go back and pack snow. In any case, we are preparing with this in mind on our side. And if we suspend, we will do that as quickly as possible,” he maintains.
So far, the City has converted approximately 75% of the devices to “summer” mode, for spring cleaning. Each year, the devices used to clear snow from the road are transformed for the summer: the shovel is removed, then a nozzle system is added with a tank at the rear.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The administrative spokesperson for the City of Montreal, Philippe Sabourin
“That leaves us with around 25 or 30% of devices remaining in winter mode, so we will be able to clear snow, even if it may take a little longer than usual. If necessary, we can also reconvert other devices,” says the spokesperson.
He points out that the snow removal contracts that the City has signed with contractors for the winter season remain active until April 15. As required by the contract, this means that companies will be able to withdraw up to 50% of their vehicle fleet if the situation requires it.
Parking bans will, however, be maintained at all times. Since Monday, parking bans for street maintenance have come into force again in the majority of districts.
Year after year, unauthorized parking is the most frequent offense on the streets of the metropolis. These fines, which amount to $90 including court fees, represent a third of all tickets issued by municipal agents.
The Montreal model is rather unique in this area in Quebec, at least with regard to parking during spring cleaning. In Quebec, street cleaning is done during special operations – such as spring cleaning – during which temporary signage is used to inform citizens of a parking ban.