Winter Operations

Snow plow in winter

The Township of Muskoka Lakes maintains roads in the winter months in accordance with Provincial Standards

These standards outline the requirements for patrolling, snowplowing, and treating icy conditions based on each road’s classification. The road class determines how quickly plowing begins and how often the road is serviced during a storm.

Snow Removal

Roads & Parking

Township snowplows require adequate space to operate safely and efficiently. Parking regulations are enforced in accordance with Parking By-law 2022-043

When official or authorized signage is posted, no person shall park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to remain parked on a roadway in a way that interferes with:

  • The removal of snow or ice
  • Road clearing or sanding
  • Road cleaning operations, including sweeping

Overnight Parking: 

  • Parking is prohibited on Township roads between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. from November 15 to April 1, inclusive.
  • Parking restrictions may be extended during prolonged snow events or during snow removal and street sweeping operations.
  • For full details, please refer to the Parking By-law 2022-043

Snow Clearing Timelines:

  • Residents are asked to avoid calling during the first day of a snow event, as crews are actively clearing roads.
  • Following the end of a snowfall, it typically takes 6 to 8 hours to clear priority roads and approximately 24 hours to complete the entire system.
  • Extended or continuous snowfall may increase the time required to clear all areas, including local streets and cul-de-sacs.

These rules apply to all Township roads.

Sidewalks

Sidewalk snow removal is completed using mechanical equipment.

Sidewalks are maintained to a snow-packed condition and are not cleared down to bare pavement.

Garbage Bins and Mailboxes

During snow events, visibility can be limited for equipment operators. While every effort is made to avoid damage, accidental contact with garbage bins or mailboxes may occur.

To assist:

  • Keep the area around bins and mailboxes clear of snow.
  • Place bins as far back from the roadway as possible.
  • Ensure bins are visible and not obstructing snow removal routes.

Please note that the Township is not responsible for damage to bins or mailboxes that block safe snow removal or are not visible to operators.

Winter Road Maintenance: Township, District, or Province?

In the Township of Muskoka Lakes, winter road maintenance is shared between the two levels of government (Township of Muskoka Lakes [lower-tier] and District of Muskoka [upper-tier]). The Township is responsible for maintaining local Township roads, while the District of Muskoka oversees maintenance of District roads that tend to be the major arterial roads carrying higher volumes of traffic. Each follows slightly different winter maintenance approaches based on usage and service standards.

Township roads are maintained:

  • To a snow-packed condition
  • Treated mainly with sand to improve traction (only a small amount of salt is used, mainly to help with icy conditions or during freezing rain, and to prevent the sand from freezing in storage. This approach helps reduce environmental impacts while still keeping roads safe.)

District roads are maintained:

  • To a bare pavement condition, which requires more frequent use of salt.

The Township maintains two District roads (District Roads 7 and 26) on the District’s behalf and treats them to that standard.

The following roads are under the jurisdiction of the District of Muskoka:

  • Muskoka Road 3 – Aspdin Road
  • Muskoka Road 4 – Raymond Road, Windermere Road
  • Muskoka Road 7 – Peninsula Road (maintained by the Township)
  • Muskoka Road 13 – Southwood Road
  • Muskoka Road 24 – Dee Bank Road
  • Muskoka Road 25 – Brackenrig Road
  • Muskoka Road 26 – Foreman Road, Mortimer's Point Road (maintained by the Township)
  • Muskoka Road 27 – Ferndale Road
  • Muskoka Road 28 – Juddhaven Road
  • Muskoka Road 29 – Acton Island Road
  • Muskoka Road 30 – Barlochan Road, Walker's Point Road
  • Muskoka Road 35 – Raymond Road
  • Muskoka Road 38 – Muskoka Road #38
  • Muskoka Road 47 – Falkenburg Road, Hewlitt Road
  • Muskoka Road 118 – Joseph Street, Medora Street, Muskoka Road 118, Highway 118 West
  • Muskoka Road 169 – Muskoka Road #169

For more information view the District Road Map or contact the District of Muskoka Engineering and Public Works Department at 705-645-6764. All District Road Capital projects can be found the District of Muskoka website. 

The following roads are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation:

  • Highway 141
  • Lake Joseph Rd

For any questions or to report an issue to a road maintained by the Ministry of Transportation, you can contact them directly at 1-800-255-7814

Winter Safety Tips

Winter weather brings snow, ice, and cold temperatures that can create safety challenges for drivers and pedestrians.

For safety reasons, residents are not permitted to enter Township maintenance yards to collect winter sand. Residents who require sand for personal use can purchase it from local quarries or home improvement supply stores.

Significant Weather Event

A Significant Weather Event is defined as an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of roads and sidewalks within a municipality. Examples of severe weather that could trigger a Significant Weather Event include:

  • Significant snow accumulation during a 24-hour period.
  • Ice formation that wasn’t predicted.
  • High winds leading to blowing snow and large snow drifts.
  • Extreme cold temperatures when de-icing won’t be as effective.

When weather conditions are forecasted or are occurring that are expected to impact our standard timelines for winter maintenance of our roads and sidewalks, the Township may need to declare a Significant Weather Event.

The Ontario Regulation 239/02, Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways allows municipalities to declare a Significant Weather Event when the weather conditions have the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roads and sidewalks which they have authority over.

The Township has standard amounts of time (standard timelines) for clearing its roadways and sidewalks.  Staff monitors current conditions and weather forecasts to see if weather conditions might affect our standard timelines. If our timelines are being impacted or are likely to be impacted based on weather forecasts, we can declare a Significant Weather Event. 

During a Significant Weather Event:

  • Township service levels do not change, but winter maintenance activities may take longer to complete. Crews will continue to work on maintaining the roadways and sidewalks until the Significant Weather Event has ended.
  • Declaration of a Significant Weather Event does NOT indicate a closure of any road or an imminent closure of any road. Individual roads that are closed are determined by OPP and notices will be circulated via the OPP. However, residents are urged to remain at home and avoid driving unless travel is necessary when a Significant Weather Event is declared.
  • It may take longer than usual to get roads cleared and back to normal.  The declaration is to notify the public that due to the current or forecasted conditions, caution is to be observed when travelling on Township roads and that it may take longer than usual to bring the condition of the roads back to a state of repair.

A Significant Weather Event means there are ongoing, hazardous road conditions on Township roads and sidewalks.  When the Township declares a Significant Weather Event, we recommend staying off the roads and staying home, if possible. If you must go out, please drive with caution. Stay a safe distance away from winter maintenance vehicles to give them space to work.

The Township always communicates the declaration of a Significant Weather Event on the Township website and on the Township’s social media channels. The Township will declare the end of a Significant Weather Event when it’s appropriate to do so. Once the end of the SWE has been declared, the usual timelines for winter maintenance on Township roads and sidewalks will then resume.

The District Municipality of Muskoka may declare a Significant Weather Event at the same time. Check the District’s website to see which roads are affected.

Being prepared in the event of a Significant Weather Event is imperative. For more information about emergency preparedness in Muskoka Lakes, please visit the Fire Department's Emergency Preparedness page.

Report a Concern

To report an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Submit a question or concern through our online form. These submissions are reviewed during regular office hours. If your concern requires immediate attention, please call the municipal office at 705-765-3156. After operating hours, you will speak with our after-hours messaging service who will contact a staff member if necessary.

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