Burlington has windrow-clearing program for people who are unable to do it themselves

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Published January 24, 2022 at 11:50 am

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward addressed the hot topic of windrows in this week’s Mayor’s Mailbag email.

Windrows are those small mountains of snow left at the end of your driveway after the city plows clears the snow from your street.

And we all know how frustrating it can be to look out your front window and see another pile of snow on your freshly-shoveled driveway.

“Plow operators do not intentionally block driveways. As the plow moves, it deposits snow to one side, and accumulation of snow all along the side of the road and along driveway entrances is unfortunately unavoidable,” said Meed Ward in her weekly email to constituents.

According to the mayor, when a street gets plowed, the operator tries to plow as much of the roadway platform as possible. Unfortunately, obstructions, such as parked cars, can get in the way of the cleanup operations and can prevent sections or even entire streets from being plowed.

When clearing their driveways, residents should try to pile the snow on the right side (if you’re standing on your driveway and looking towards the street). This can help reduce the amount of snow that is pushed onto your driveway when a plow passes.

Plows are not able to lift or angle their blade to avoid the snow from piling onto driveway entrances, as this would result in snow being deposited on the road — and that ends up being hazardous for vehicles and pedestrians.

The City of Burlington does not clear windrows or driveways, but it does offer a Windrow Snow Clearing Program that residents can apply for.

“The windrow clearing program is offered to residents who are not physically able to clear their own windrow. Burlington residents who meet the criteria may apply to get assistance with removing their windrow for the next winter season, as the program registration for this season is now closed.”

Windrow clearing contractors are dispatched to people’s homes after the completion of all roadway plowing. Residents can expect windrows to be cleared within 36 hours after the snow stops and within 12 hours of the completion of all road plowing.

For more information about the program, visit the city website.

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