Mississauga rolls out new snow machines to keep driveways accessible after major snowfall

As frustration continues in Brampton over driveway-blocking snow left by plows, Mississauga officials are praising a new windrow-clearing program they say helps keep residences accessible after major snowfalls.

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish recently posted a video of the city’s snow-clearing operations on social media, highlighting the newly deployed windrow blades in motion during what she described as an “unusually snowy winter.”

In Mississauga, driveway windrow clearing is now part of the city’s standard snow removal service for residential homes. A windrow is the pile of snow pushed across the bottom of a driveway when roads are plowed.

According to the city, snow clearing on residential streets happens in two stages. First, a loader plows the roadway, which can leave compacted snow at driveway entrances. Once the street has been plowed for the final time, the same loader returns equipped with a windrow blade to clear a portion of that snow pile.

The city says crews clear a minimum three-metre-wide opening at the end of single, double and shared residential driveways — wide enough for one vehicle to pass through. The openings aren’t cleared all the way down to bare pavement and are not treated with salt. Snow along the curb also remains in place.

The service comes as windrows have become a growing point of frustration across the Greater Toronto Area, particularly after heavy snowfalls this season. In Brampton, one resident started a petition earlier this month, raising concerns about accessibility, safety and the burden placed on homeowners to clear heavy, compacted snow left by plows. The City of Brampton says during a phone poll, the majority of its residents voted against the service, which would increase property taxes by about $92. 

Mississauga notes that windrow clearing only begins after roads have been fully plowed, with timelines varying based on snowfall amounts:

• Less than 5 cm: no service required
  
• 5 to 15 cm: driveway opening cleared within four hours
  
• 15 to 30 cm: cleared within six hours
  
• More than 30 cm or back-to-back storms: cleared more than six hours after final plowing
  

MISSISSAUGA SAYS RESIDENTS ARE RESPONDING POSITIVELY 

Mississauga tells Now Toronto that it currently has 230 loaders equipped with windrow blades in use across the city. 

Officials say that the fleet allows crews to service all eligible residential driveways within established service levels, and there are no plans to expand the fleet at this time.

“Our windrow-clearing machines are very effective at removing the windrows,” a city spokesperson said, adding that the program has been “well received” and is generating positive feedback from residents.

CITY OF TORONTO ALSO OFFERS WINDROW CLEARING 

The City of Toronto offers a similar windrow-clearing service, aiming to clear three metre wide driveway windrows within two hours of road plowing.