It is the goal of the Township of Scugog to apply its operational activities in an efficient and effective manner, as to provide an acceptable level of service across the municipality to:

  • Reduce the hazards of ice and snow covered road conditions to motorists,
  • Facilitate the handling of emergencies by response vehicles,
  • Provide safe and passable school bus routes,
  • To reduce economic losses to the agricultural community, and
  • To reduce economic losses to the commercial and industrial communities

Based on local and provincial weather monitoring, paired with the winter patrol required as part of the Minimum Maintenance Standards, the on-shift patroller, lead-hand or supervisor will determine the need for winter maintenance activities to begin. Winter maintenance activities can include preventative maintenance, pre-treating of roads, plowing, salting, sanding, cleanup, removal or spot treatments where drifting occurs.

 Roads within the Township of Scugog
Roads within the Township of Scugog are maintained by three separate authorities; the Region of Durham, the Ministry of Transportation, and Township of Scugog.

MTO maintained roads

  • Highway 7/12
  • Highway 7A (Scugog Street)

Region of Durham roads

  • Regional Road 2, Simcoe Street
  • Regional Road 6, Saintfield
  • Regional Road 7, Island Road
  • Regional Road 8, Reach Street
  • Regional Road 19, Shirley Road
  • Regional Road 21, Goodwood Road
  • Regional Road 23, Lakeridge Road
  • Regional Highway 47
  • Regional Road 57

The purpose of winter maintenance is to provide services for the safety and mobility of the motoring public on Township of Scugog roads.  The Township of Scugog is responsible for maintaining public roads and priority sidewalks. We regularly monitor road conditions and weather throughout winter to help in their safe and timely maintenance. Township of Scugog maintains approximately 413 kilometres of roads, 15 parking lots, intersections and 16 bridges. 

 Roads 
Maintenance crews begin clearing roads as soon as snow or ice reaches a level that requires removal. The Township does not have any Class 1 or 2 roads and MMS standards do not apply to Class 6 roads.

We clear snow and ice from nearly 413 km of road using standards set out in the Municipal Act MMS. 

Clearance of snow is prioritized based on road classification, speed and traffic volume:

Scugog Road Priority

Road Type

Time to Clear Snow

Priority 1

Class 3 Roads, Arterial Roads and EMS Locations

12 hours, when snow reaches a depth of 8 cm

Priority 2

Class 4 Roads, Collectors Roads and Designated Bus Routes

16 hours, when snow reaches a depth of 8 cm

Priority 3

Class 5 Roads and Local Roads

24 hours, when snow reaches a depth of 10 cm

We use a mix of 90% sand and 10% salt to limit environmental impact and treat icy roads in accordance with Ontario's Minimum Maintenance Standards:

  • Priority 1, Class 3 roads: within 8 hours
  • Priority 2, Class 4 roads: within 12 hours
  • Priority 3, Class 5 roads: within 16 hours

Street plowing routes
 Significant Weather Events
As per the Ontario Municipal Act, a municipality may declare a significant weather event when a weather hazard, either forecast or occurring, has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roadways in which they have authority. This declaration suspends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives.

Declarations may be the result of:

  • Significant snow accumulation during a 24-hour period
  • High winds leading to blowing snow and large snow drifts
  • Freezing temperatures and ice formation that occurs without warning from the weather forecast

During significant weather events, roads and sidewalks are deemed in a state of repair until the declaration has ended. 
 Sidewalks cleared by the Township
The Township anticipates that winter maintained sidewalks will be plowed at least once within 24 hours after a typical winter event. Not all sidewalks are cleared by the Township. 

Snow and ice often bonds to the concrete during extreme temperatures, and ice can also form on snow-packed sidewalks during thaw/freeze cycles. Other factors, such as a buildup of residual ice and snow under wheel tracks, can cause the edge of the plow or blower to ride above the surface of the sidewalk. All affected areas are treated with sand and/or salt for traction.
Residents are asked to keep vehicles parked away from sidewalks so both road and sidewalk plows can better clean the roads. Residents are required to clear the sidewalks that border their property.  
 Safe Winter Walking
During winter months, snow and ice make walking very difficult. Here are some suggestions to help keep winter walking safe for everyone:

• Clear snow and ice away from catch basins and hydrants in front of your property.
• When clearing snow from parking lots do not push it into adjacent public land.
• During and immediately after a snowstorm, reduce your driving speed to account for slippery road conditions and snow clearing operations.
• During thaws, reduce your driving speed to avoid splashing pedestrians and prevent water from splashing onto the sidewalk where it will freeze into ice and become a hazard.
• Do not park any vehicles over the sidewalk. Even a partially blocked sidewalk prevents the plows from doing their job properly

• Ensure that any structures are placed well back of the property line.
Winter Maintenance Frequently Asked Questions
The plow always leaves snow at the end of my driveway.  Why can’t this be cleared by the Township?
Unfortunately, plow drivers cannot control the amount of snow that leaves the end of the plow wing.  All residents in Scugog are responsible for the removal of driveway windrows as the Township does not provide this service.  
Why do we sand/salt a road and then come along and plow it all off?
In a continuing snowstorm, we apply sand/salt to the road surface early in the storm.  This causes a melting action that prevents snow that falls later from freezing to the road surface.  When the plow comes along, the road gets cleaned down to the pavement and we do not get a frozen snow pack that is very difficult and expensive to remove later.  
Why is the plow driving with its blade up?
Reasons a plow might be travelling with the blade up:
  • The plow is heading to and from routes
  • Sand/Salt was recently put on that section of road, so plow drivers will lift the blades in order to not scrape off the freshly laid sand/salt.
  • When the plows are applying sand/salt pre or early in a storm the blades will be up. 
  • The plow is travelling on a road not under our jurisdiction
My driveway get filled with snow to great depth every time the plow comes around, but my neighbor across the road gets almost nothing.  Can’t you take the snow somewhere else? 
Most of these calls come from residents with driveways that are the first ones to the right of an intersection or are the first driveway when entering the bulb of a cul-de-sac.  The reason for the problem is that when a snowplow turns to the right it sweeps a much larger area of the road than when it is travelling in a straight line.  The snow also does not discharge from the plow when it is turning hard right because the plows are angled from left to right on the truck.  Turning right effectively makes the plow push all the snow ahead instead of moving it from the center of the road to the side. 

The first driveway encountered after the plow straightens out usually gets more snow than others in the immediate area.  We cannot do much about this in most cases.  If there is enough room, we can sometimes get rid of some of the snow before the driveway is reached.  Another point to understand, is that a fixed snowplow cannot carry snow around to put it where desired.  The plow moves snow from the centre of the road to the side of the road – period – the driver cannot change that.  
Why is the plow scraping the pavement?
For larger snow falls, it is common to do an initial pass to clear streets and then follow up with a second pass to clear newly fallen and residual snow and to wing back the banks to make room for snow storage that will be required for future storms.
When clearing snow from properties, is it OK to push snow onto the road?
Pushing snow onto the road contravenes the Municipal Refuse By-Law and the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181. It also contributes to unsafe driving and walking conditions, and increases the cost of providing winter road maintenance. When you're clearing snow from your driveway, please keep the snow on your property.
The plow destroyed my custom mailbox.  Will they replace it? 
Mailboxes in the Right of Way

During winter maintenance operations, mailboxes in the right of way are prone to damage, due to their proximity to the traveled portion of the road. Operations makes every effort to not damage these items, however occasionally it may happen.

In general, if a mailbox and/or post is damaged by snow or the impact of the snow load from plowing operations, or improper mailbox location, the Township is not negligent and therefore not responsible for the repair/ replacement. However, if the Township’s equipment (plow or wing) impacts the mailbox and/or post, the Township will assume responsibility. If the mailbox can be repaired, the Township will repair the mailbox. If the mailbox is not repairable then the mailbox will be replaced with a standard mailbox.

Please note that other than mailboxes, which are federally regulated, no other structures or obstructions are allowed in the Township Road Allowance.  If you choose to place anything within the road allowance and it gets damaged or destroyed the Township will not replace those items.

Winter Tips for Successful Winter Season
Keeping Road Allowances Clear

To facilitate the removal of snow from sidewalks and to prevent damage to private property, residents are required not to place cars, fences, posts, hedges, shrubs, driveway curbs or any other obstructions on the road allowance.  The Township will not be responsible for damage to items placed on Township property by property owners. 

Keeping Cleared Snow on Property

The Township devotes a great deal of resources to keep streets and sidewalks clear of snow and ice after a snowfall.  Residents often deposit snow and ice from their property onto the street or sidewalk.  This contravenes municipal by-laws, contributes to unsafe driving and walking conditions, and increases the cost of providing winter road maintenance.  When you are clearing snow from your driveway, please keep this snow on your property.  Your efforts in making winter driving and walking safe for everyone are appreciated. 

You can help by following these winter tips:

  • Please be patient while you wait for you street to be cleared.
  • Give snow plows plenty of space and never pass a working snow plow
  • Keep cars off the street (even if it's not actively snowing)
  • Always check winter and road conditions before heading out, and leave extra time if necessary
  • Remove items such as bins, basketball nets, steel stakes and planters away from the edge of your driveway
  • Do not blow or push snow onto or across the road in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act.
  • Pile snow on the right side of your driveway (as you face the street) so that the cleared snow does not get moved back into your driveway by the snow plow
  • Clear snow away from hydrants
  • Clear snow away from catchbasins
  • Do not place snow or ice in a ditch or anywhere it may obstruct a culvert or other drainage outlets

Transit shelters and super mailboxes

The Region of Durham is responsible for clearing snow at bus shelters and bus stops. Please contact the Durham Region Transit at 905-579-2471 for more information about transit.

Canada Post is responsible for clearing snow away from super mailbox areas.
Please contact Canada Post at 905-985-2823 (Port Perry)
or 1-705-357-3195 (Sunderland).