As heavy snow continues to punish Waterloo Region roads this winter, the City of Kitchener is out with an advisory for residents, warning of “challenging” road conditions.
This winter, the city has declared seven snow events, up from the average of five experienced over the past five years and with another two months of the season left to go.
Snowfall began early this season in Ontario, and Kitchener deployed full plow crews for the first time back on Nov. 9, with the first snow event declared on Nov. 27.
The long and snowy season has led to a strain on staff and resources at the city, and crews are being forced to conserve road salt as shortages begin to pop up across Ontario.
As a result, the city notes that crews will begin to use sand on Priority 1 roadways like Victoria Street, Homer Watson Boulevard, Fischer-Hallman Road, Highland Road and more.
The city noted that bare, wet pavement may become more rare because of the reduced use of salt, adding that “track bare” surfaces where wheel paths are clear but the rest of the surface remains snow-covered will be more common.
“The City of Kitchener appreciates residents’ understanding and cooperation as crews continue to manage these challenging winter conditions,” reads the release from the City of Kitchener. “We also extend our gratitude to roads, parks and fleet maintenance teams across the region for their ongoing dedication to helping residents travel safely in our community.”
The region is set to be hit with another bout of heavy snow this weekend, with 5 cm possible for Friday and a further up-to 25 cm on Sunday along with bitter-cold temperatures.