The City of Cambridge is actively working to clear snow from sidewalks and residential streets following an influx of complaints since snowfall began in November. The city recently extended its ongoing snow event, initially declared on Monday at noon ET, until Friday at 6 p.m. City manager Rob Axiak emphasized the city’s commitment to addressing the snow and slush on city streets and sidewalks, prioritizing public safety.
Axiak stated that continuous updates on weather, travel conditions, and supply availability will be provided to keep both council and the public informed. Residents are advised to exercise caution while traveling, keep roads clear of parked vehicles during snow events, allow extra travel time, and remain patient as crews work diligently to handle prolonged periods of snow and ice accumulation.
During snow events, residents are urged not to park on city streets to facilitate snow removal operations. Notably, since November 28, a total of 2,631 tickets have been issued to individuals who left vehicles on the road during snow events. The tickets were distributed across various snow events, with the highest numbers issued during the periods of November 28-30 and December 28-31.
The city’s snow removal efforts prioritize main roads, secondary roads, emergency routes, hills, and bridges. To supplement salt usage for treating roadways, the city is utilizing local winter sand supplies due to limited availability of road salt. Over 1,370 residents have raised snow-related concerns, with private sidewalk clearance and residential street plowing being the most common issues reported.
Residents are reminded to clear private sidewalks within 36 hours of a snowfall and refrain from shoveling snow onto the road. Additionally, residents are encouraged to clear storm drains near their properties to assist with drainage, especially with anticipated warmer weather and rain. The city requests a waiting period of 36 hours after the end of a snow event before reporting any problem areas.
Weather forecasts predict mild temperatures in Cambridge and the wider Waterloo Region in the coming days. Thursday is expected to reach a high of 5°C with a mix of sun and cloud, while Friday may see temperatures rise to 9°C with periods of rain or drizzle. Saturday is forecasted to have a temperature drop to 2°C with a chance of rain and snow.