Snow Removal

Milton operations crews keep roads as clear as possible for the safety of drivers and emergency response vehicles during snowstorms. We are committed to providing snow removal service throughout the winter.

The Town provides winter maintenance to more than 1,615 lane kilometres of Regional and Town roads (taking both sides of roadways into account) and more than 250 kilometres of designated walkways and sidewalks.

Track our plows

Use the Plow Tracks tool to follow our snow clearing progress.

Please wait a full 24 hours after a storm has ended to contact us if your road has not been maintained. Once the 24-hour period has lapsed, contact us:

By email
By phone at 905-878-7252 ext. 2500

Please note: Email and phone lines are monitored during regular business hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. only.

Priority plowing sequence

We maintain roads in a priority sequence, beginning with primary roads (e.g., Derry Rd., Ontario St.), secondary roads (e.g., Trudeau Dr., Savoline Blvd.), and then residential roads.

Primary and secondary roads

Winter road maintenance, such as salting or sanding, begins before a winter event. We begin to plow when there is 2 cm of snow accumulation on primary or secondary roads. Then, 2 to 12 hours after the snow stops, we clear down to the pavement on primary roads.

Residential roads

We begin to plow residential roads after we have cleared primary roads and once 10 cm of snow has accumulated. We start to plow as soon as the snowstorm has ended. We plow these roads down to a snow-packed standard.

Snow plow routes

These maps show the snow plow routes for:

Road clearing response times

Road clearing response times based on snow accumulation
Classification	Road type	Examples	Treatment standard	Minor event	Significant event	Major event
A	Primary/arterial	Main St., Ontario St.	Bare	2 to 3 hours	2 to 4 hours	4 to 12 hours
B	Secondary/collector	Woodward Ave., Laurier Ave.	Bare	4 to 5 hours	4 to 10 hours	8 to 12 hours
C	Rural collector and industrial	15 Side Rd.	Centre-bare	5 to 8 hours	5 to 10 hours	10 to 16 hours
D	Urban and rural residential	Residential through street	Snow packed-sand	8 to 16 hours	10 to 20 hours	18 to 24 hours
E	Urban and rural residential (other)	Cul-de-sac	Snow packed-centre piled	14 to 16 hours	16 to 20 hours	20 to 24 hours

Call us if your street has not been cleared more than 24 hours after a storm has ended.

Glossary of terms for snow clearing

The following terms appear in the table below:

Bare standard is full width bare pavement
Centre-bare standard is partially bare pavement from centre of roadway onward
Snow packed standard is pavement with packed snow for a running surface
Minor event means less than 5 cm of snow and icy conditions
Significant event means 5 cm to 30 cm of snow
Major event means more than 30 cm of snow

Sidewalks

After the accumulation of 5 cm or more of snow, we plow sidewalks and pathways associated with schools, transit routes and major pedestrian travel.

You are responsible for clearing snow on sidewalks adjacent to your property that are not designated on our sidewalk plow routes. When you clear your sidewalk, please do not put the snow on the road as per By-law No. 115-2005.

Sidewalk clearing response times

Sidewalk clearing response times based on snow accumulation
Route	5 cm to 12.5 cm of accumulation	12.5 cm to 30 cm of accumulation	More than 30 cm of accumulation
Primary	10 hours	18 hours	As soon as practical
Secondary	18 hours	36 hours	As soon as practical

Sidewalk plow routes

These maps show the snow plow routes for:

Winter parking

Nothing slows down the work of snowplows more than cars parked on the street. Cars must be off the road during snowstorms. Street parking exceptions are suspended during some storms. Cars in the way of the plow may be ticketed and/or towed at the owner's expense. Please do not shovel snow onto the road or sidewalk from your property. Placing snow on the road way is a violation of Milton’s Road Fouling By-law No. 115-2005.

Bus stops

Milton Transit bus stops are cleared approximately 24-36 hours after a snow event.

Snow at the end of your driveway (windrows)

Plow operators work to clear snow on the roadways to keep traffic flowing. Snow coming off our plows is diverted to the right of the road, to keep it away from the roadway and traffic. This can result in piles of snow at the end of your driveway called windrows.

Plow operators do not intentionally block driveways with snow. To remove windrows, pile the snow on the right side at the end of your driveway.

We only clear windrows as part of the windrow removal program.

Damaged mailboxes

We regret any inconvenience caused by recent damages to your mailbox because of our winter snow plowing operations.

We will reimburse residents up to $100 towards repairs or replacement of your mailbox. To report mailbox damage by a Town of Milton plow, please use the contact information on this page and report any damage by May 30, 2022. We will assess the damage and leave instructions on where to submit receipts.

Winter safety

Areas with frozen lakes, ponds, channels and reservoirs can be beautiful places to visit during the winter months but all too often people risk their lives by venturing onto frozen water.

It’s important to be aware of the dangers and risks associated with water and ice at this time of year.

Frequently asked questions

Which roads are plowed first?

Roads are maintained in a priority sequence beginning with primary roads, secondary roads, followed by residential roads. You can refer to the Roadway Priorities and Response Times for more information on target surface conditions and completion times.

What are primary, secondary and residential roads?

Primary roads are routes for emergency vehicles, public transportation and most street traffic such as Derry Road, Ontario Street and Main Street
Secondary roads, such as Trudeau Drive and Savoline Boulevard, have less traffic than primary roads, but generally lead to primary roads
Residential roads have much less traffic than primary or secondary roadways and are plowed to a "snow-packed” standard, not bare pavement

What is Plow Tracks?

Plow Tracks is a GPS technology mapping tool that Milton uses to show the progress of plows as they clear roads during a snow event. When a plow passes over a road, the colour of the road changes to green, indicating the plow has been to that area. Please note there is a 30-minute time delay on the website.

If there is no snow, why are the plows out?

To prepare for snow fall, the vehicles used for snow clearing are also used for other road maintenance activities such as salting, sanding and brining.

Why doesn’t the Town clear the snow at the end of my driveway (windrows)?

The Town does not clear windrows; this is the responsibility of the homeowner. Every year, the Town offers a windrow removal program for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Why can’t I park my car on the road during a storm?

We all want our streets cleared of snow quickly, but nothing slows down the work of snow plows more than cars parked on the street. Vehicles left on the street pose an obstacle to snow-clearing activities, making is dangerous and sometime impossible to clear the street properly. Cars parked on the road during a storm are subject to a fine and may be towed.

Why do plows keep going up and down the same street?

The Town works to maintain quality levels of service. Roads are cleared on a priority basis and continue to be travelled until that service level is met. If there are obstacles on the roads i.e. cars, this doesn’t allow the plow to clear the road properly so they may need to repeat plowing. The plows also travel back and forth to the yard to reload salt and fuel.

How can I stay informed about snow plows and services during a snow storm?

To stay informed throughout snow events, please monitor the following:

Plow Tracks: Milton's website
Social media platforms: Facebook and Twitter
Website: milton.ca/Snow

Who is responsible for clearing snow on sidewalks?

With accumulation of 5 cm or more of snow, sidewalks and pathways associated with schools, transit routes and major pedestrian travel are plowed by the Town. Residents are responsible for clearing snow on sidewalks that have not been designated on the Town's sidewalk plow routes.

Am I allowed to shovel or blow snow from my driveway onto the road?

Pushing, blowing or shoveling snow onto the road is not permitted. Please clear snow onto your property or the Town Boulevard. Please make sure snow doesn’t block visibility.

What should I do if my neighbour keeps shoveling their snow onto my property?

This is a civil matter that the Town cannot enforce as it has to do with property lines. We suggest resolving the issue with your neighbour directly.

What is the total area of roads cleared by the Town?

Who do I contact if I have snow related concerns?

We ask that you please wait 24 hours after a storm has ended to allow our crews enough time to service your road. If 24 hours has passed and your street has not been cleared, please contact us by phone 905-878-7252 ext. 2500 or email.