According to the director of operations for the Town, Tarmo Uukkivi, as of last night at midnight (December 26) all Town of Huntsville roads have been plowed and opened to at least one lane and that includes the Yearly Community Centre Road, the Town of Huntsville portion of Etwell and a portion of Yearly (District of Muskoka Road).
“I cannot confirm whether Yearly Road and the District portion of Etwell have yet been done,” said Uukkivi this morning, December 27, via email.
He said the strategy for opening up roads following a massive snowfall remains prioritizing public safety first. “We are working together with our fire services, paramedic, police, hydro (Hydro One and Lakeland), and area municipal partners. Our first priority is remaining available for emergency responses and working with emergency responders to ensure immediate access to life threatening emergencies.”
Uukkivi said the municipality is working from the highest volume/traffic routes outward to less travelled routes. “Now that we have at least one lane open on all Town of Huntsville roads, we will be working on:
- Continuing to keep one lane open with ongoing snowfall
- Widening roadways in priority order
- Clearing catch basins
- Clearing sidewalks
We will begin snow removal as our crews become available based on weather conditions and crew availability (crews are legally required to have rest periods from driving as part of the commercial vehicle operator’s registration – same as transport truck drivers). We are balancing our approach to public safety and access with the Health, Safety, and Well-being of our Town Team,” he said.
The Town currently has twenty-two (22) plow operators and five (5) parks attendants all engaged in winter maintenance activities including plowing and snow removal. The Town also has two (2) mechanics to maintain the equipment, explained Uukivi.
He also offered the following:
- The Significant Weather Event declaration remains in effect at this time.
- Roads are being cleared safely, as quickly as possible.
- Sidewalk clearing is getting underway – this will take time.
- All roads in Huntsville are cleared to at least one lane.
- Snowfall continues on and off and additional accumulation is slowing snow-clearing efforts.
- Emergency services, including Hydro, can directly contact Huntsville and District roads operations for assistance accessing calls for immediate threats to life.
- Huntsville continues to co-ordinate with Hydro to assist power restoration efforts.
- We are receiving a high volume of requests for service, concerns, and complaints and are doing our best to respond to all.
- We are asking the public for continuing understanding and patience and for their help with the following:
- Do not clear snow from your property on to roadways or sidewalks – this makes snow clearing for difficult and slows progress
- Do not obstruct roadways and sidewalks – please do not park on roads or across sidewalks or otherwise block sidewalks and roadways at this time.
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That part about about don’t put snow on the roadway is never enforced, people along old Muskoka road in Allensville use ATVs to push it in the road every winter.
It’s great when you hit one of those mounds on a snowy night.