City of Markham is ready for winter weather

By David Yin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Winter weather arrived a little early this year, and the City of Markham has rolled out its winter safety measures to keep roads, sidewalks, and park pathways safe.

According to a Nov. 20 media release, the city’s winter maintenance team is ready to look after more than 2,100 km of roads and 1,175 km of sidewalks this season, supported by 52 road plows and 48 sidewalk plows operating around the clock.

The team will also keep 26 km of park pathways cleared and safe for residents.

City staff will prioritize clearing Markham’s largest and busiest primary roads first, followed by secondary and local neighbourhood roads. Primary and secondary routes will be plowed until pavement is bare, while local roads are expected to be cleared within 12 to 16 hours after snow accumulation reaches 7.5 cm at the end of a snowfall.

Markham uses salt or liquid brine on roads and a sand-salt mixture on sidewalks to prevent ice formation. The city follows a salt management plan to ensure environmentally responsible use, storage, and transportation of materials.

Some snow may remain on road surfaces after plowing, but the city says they will still be safe to drive on with caution.

“Winter may have arrived early, but we are ready to go,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “… So, leave the work to us and enjoy the winter beauty in our many parks and pathways, with the variety of activities Markham has to offer.”

The city will maintain the following outdoor public skating rinks this winter: Huntington Park, Victoria Square Park, Milliken Mills Park, Markham Museum, and Milne Dam Park. The Markham Civic Centre outdoor refrigerated ice rink will also be open this winter.

Residents are cautioned not to skate on unmaintained ponds and waterways, which may appear frozen but remain unpredictable due to flowing water below the surface.

For updates throughout the season, visit www.markham.ca/neighbourhood-services/roads-sidewalks/winter-road-services.

Photo: Skaters glided across Markham Civic Centre’s rink at last year’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Skate Party. (City of Markham photo)