City set to for snow clearing season

August 01, 2025

As we head into the winter season, City of Cambridge road crews are ready to keep our roads safe.

The City provides efficient and reliable winter road maintenance, including monitoring weather, preparing roads ahead of a snow event and clearing snow and ice from roads following snowfall. We clear snow based on provincial guidelines and a priority schedule. This means that primary and secondary roads are always cleared first, followed by residential streets.

Roads are cleared in the following order:

  • Primary roads – these are the higher volume arterial roads throughout the city that allow emergency vehicles to respond quickly in the event of an emergency.
  • Secondary roads – these are the roads used by transit vehicles and help our city continue to operate.
  • Residential roads – these roads are cleared after the primary and secondary roads are cleared and only after a significant snowfall (8cm or more). If snow keeps falling, crews continue to clear primary and secondary roads with priority.

There are a number of simple ways you can help snow clearing run smoothly:

  • Avoid parking on streets while snow plows are out. This helps us clear roads thoroughly and safely. During a declared snow event on-street parking is not permitted on any street at any time.
  • Set your garbage, recycling and other items back from the curb. These items should never be placed on top of or behind snowbanks or on the street.
  • Remove anything by the road that may interfere or be hazardous to plow crews – this includes sporting items, decorative items, furniture.
  • Clear snow from your sidewalk within 36 hours of snowfall ending, but avoid dumping it back on the road.
  • Keep catch basins clear of snow and debris to help prevent potential flooding during temperature fluctuations.
  • Have a fire hydrant on your property? Keep it clear and accessible so that emergency responders can easily get to it in case of a fire.

Learn more about winter snow maintenance and follow our official social channels - Twitter and Facebook