Many sidewalks are still crusted with ice and snow, this is because borough staff are often requisitioned for snow removal operations on the streets of the central city.
“It’s painful to walk on the sidewalks, and I have to choose the least worst ones when there are any,” laments Sheilo Sainvil, who was pushing his walker on Marie-Anne Street on Monday, in the hope of reaching his bank on Mont-Royal Avenue.
“Further on, there was a trail of snow that looked like a wall and I couldn’t get through,” laments the 46-year-old man, who lives in front of La Fontaine Park.
On Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, several sidewalks were uniformly white, winding and icy as the Journal, Monday and Tuesday.
Certain sections, a little better cleared, were probably cleaned by citizens.
Monday afternoon, during the approximately two kilometers inspected on foot by The Journalno caterpillar was seen.
Snow removal versus plowing
Questioned by The JournalJulien Deschênes, spokesperson for the mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal, Cathy Wong, explained that there was a shortage of manpower to clear the sidewalks in the borough because it was frequently requisitioned by the general snow removal operations decreed by the central city.
“During loading operations, our teams must mobilize within a 24-hour period following the decree and have a minimum of one day off per six-day period,” says Mr. Deschênes.
“The loading operations decreed by Luis Miranda [responsable du déneigement, NDLR]when we have not yet reached 10 centimeters of accumulation, delay the clearing operations for the snow, which continues to accumulate in the meantime,” he continues.
Abandoned
One of the worst snow-cleared streets in the Plateau, we were able to see The Journalwas that of La Fontaine Park:
A multitude of layers of snow and ice covered the concrete for nearly a kilometer on Tuesday.
For almost a kilometer, the sidewalk on Rue du Parc La Fontaine is not plowed.
Photo Louis-Philippe Messier
“Our sidewalk has been abandoned for weeks, it cannot be recovered for this winter,” fumes political columnist Josée Legault, a resident of the street in question.
“It’s even worse than in the years of Luc Ferrandez, the sidewalk has never been so neglected for so long,” she believes.
Political columnist Josée Legault, at the intersection of her rue du parc La Fontaine and rue Roy, which are also not plowed.
Photo Louis-Philippe Messier
Snow removal signs announced a pickup the same evening.
“They will clear the street, but will not touch the sidewalk,” predicts the one who called 311 at least four times to ask to have the snow cleared from the sidewalk.
“It will be done when they get there!” one of the 311 employees replied dryly several weeks ago…
“We don’t seem to realize in the City that it is a question of public health and economics to allow people to walk safely on the sidewalks, which should be at least as well cleared of snow as the cycle paths,” laments the woman who suffers from a herniated disc and cannot afford to fall.
The cycle path, imperfectly maintained, seemed more passable than the sidewalks.
Photo Louis-Philippe Messier
