Area digs out from winter wallop

In Windsor, officials say clearing streets of snow could take until early next week

City officials called for patience Friday as snow plows fought what seemed like a never-ending battle to stay on top of the accumulating snow. By the end of the day Friday, Environment Canada expected to see up to 20 centimetres of snow in the region.

Snow removal crews hit the roads at 2 a.m., starting with arterial and collector routes. Residential streets would be tackled intermittently during breaks in the snowfall, the city said.

The constant snowfall led to relatively few accidents, but there were numerous cancellations throughout the day as drivers were urged to stay off the roads. School buses and some college classes were cancelled.

An OPP officer was nearly hit by an auto hauler when the eastbound vehicle lost control on Highway 401 at Puce Road as the officer was stopped helping another motorist. The auto hauler ended up in a ditch and charges are pending.

A section of Highway 401 in Chatham-Kent was closed as a result of a collision involving a transport truck and a snow plow. Minor injuries were reported, but the truck driver is now facing a number of charges, according to OPP.

The OPP in Essex County responded to 19 collisions by Friday afternoon and in most of the cases, drivers were travelling too fast for the weather conditions, the police force said.

The city planned to begin plowing residential streets on Saturday, but only if there was a break in the snowfall. Even so, it would take up to 36 hours to complete and would continue into early next week, the city said in a statement.

The city is asking residents to remove vehicles from all streets by parking in a driveway, if possible, or in a nearby parking lot.

The city also reminded residents that sidewalks in front of their properties are their responsibility to clear and must be cleared 12 hours after the snowfall ends for residential property owners and four hours for commercial property owners.

As well, under the Highway Traffic Act and City of Windsor bylaws, residents and private snow removal operators are prohibited from pushing snow back onto the street while clearing sidewalks and driveways because it creates unsafe road conditions for motorists.

NICK BRANCACCIO From the seat of his mobility scooter, Don Hamel clears snow from the Erie Street East sidewalk on Friday.

DAN JANISSE Despite the heavy snowfall, there were relatively few accidents, although the Ontario Provincial Police report two incidents, including a collision between a snow plow and a transport truck on Highway 401.