Rainfall warning ended, clean up efforts continue; Kitchener/Waterloo issue parking bans

Crews across Waterloo Region continue to clean up after the weekend ice storm, and residents are being asked to exercise patience as efforts continue on that front.

That includes removing your vehicle from the street.

To that effect, the City of Kitchener has declared a snow event.

Residents will have until 11:59 p.m. to remove their cars from city streets — or risk receiving an $80 ticket and being towed.

It will remain in effect for 24 hours.

As for their clean up efforts, they say 16-20 plows have been out since Saturday morning, maintaining priority roads.

They moved on to residential roads Monday morning, but efforts have proved difficult with heavy, wet snow.

Moving ahead, they say a full plow will be launched at 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, adding they’re also working on sidewalk and catch basin clearing.

They’re asking for patience, adding residents can do their part around the home by ensuring of the following:

• Gas meter is clear of ice & snow
• Furnace exhaust pipes are clear of ice & snow
• Eavestrough downspouts are connected, free of ice & snow, and draining away from their home
• Catch basins are clear. If not, please give us a call 519-741-2345

Now, Kitchener has given out a few numbers for residents, in case they see something:

• To report downed/unsafe tree limbs, call City of Kitchener at 519-741-2345
• To report power outages, call Kitchener Wilmot Hydro at 519-745-4771
• To report downed power lines, call Waterloo Region Police Services at 911
• To report loose or dangling traffic lights, call Region of Waterloo at 519-575-4400

Meantime in Waterloo, their Director of Transportation Christine Koehler says over the weekend, they focused on bus routes and main roads.

Today, much like Kitchener, she says they were able to get to residential roads.

However, on-street parking is hindering their ability for plows to fully clear city streets and they have also declared an overnight parking ban.

The ban is on for Tuesday morning, between 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

“Some streets we’ve had to skip because people have left their cars parked on the street,” Koehler said, “And that presents a bit of a problem for us.”

“Our water services staff are working diligently to get the catch basins open, ” she adds, “They currently have three crews and two backhoes out doing work in areas that are flooding.”

She adds work will continue overnight and into Tuesday, noting there is some snow in the forecast.

“And we’re hoping for spring.”