Despite many Montreal residents dreading the winter season, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada assures the public that the city is fully prepared for winter.
In a press briefing on Thursday morning, Martinez Ferrada revealed a $15.8 million investment in upgrading winter road maintenance, with a significant portion of $13.3 million allocated for acquiring 43 new snow removal machines.
Expressing confidence in the city’s preparedness for winter, Martinez Ferrada stated, “We are well-equipped for the upcoming winter season. While we may experiment with new strategies, our commitment remains steadfast towards serving the citizens.”
The newly acquired machinery consists of 19 loaders, 13 snowblowers, and 11 jets designed for abrasive spreading.
The remaining $2.5 million will be directed towards enhancing spreading operations in boroughs, with over 16 additional pieces of equipment to be deployed.
The city currently holds 115 snow-removal contracts, with 55% belonging to the public sector and the remaining 45% to the private sector.
Martinez Ferrada faced criticism last season regarding the condition of the city’s streets, not only concerning snow removal but also the prevalence of potholes.
Reflecting on the challenges encountered upon taking office in November, Martinez Ferrada acknowledged the inadequacy of the existing equipment, emphasizing the need for extensive maintenance and additional resources.
She highlighted the inherited maintenance backlog in the city’s road infrastructure and emphasized the residents’ justified expectations for improved services.
Since then, the city has addressed 200,000 potholes and aims to double its repair capacity, commencing in January with the establishment of two specialized hubs comprising 24 additional blue-collar workers divided into eight mobile teams for pothole repair. Additionally, a tender process is underway to acquire eight mechanical pothole repair machines.
Divergence on Salt Usage
Martinez Ferrada emphasized the establishment of a new weather and operations monitoring center to forecast and manage weather events efficiently, enabling strategic resource deployment.
Exploring innovative solutions, the city is considering utilizing AI technology to track equipment location, identify repair needs, and streamline crew coordination.
A new platform named Go-Géo will be gradually introduced throughout the winter, allowing the public to track sidewalk salting and snow-clearing operations online and in real-time.
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