Snow removal crews started working Tuesday morning in Montreal and the surrounding cities.
City Councillor Anie Samson said the work will take four days to finish, and perhaps a bit longer if drivers fail to respect temporary signs ordering them to move their cars.
During every storm about 5,000 drivers habitually abandon their vehicles and let city workers haul them away to another street.
Montreal gives a minimum of four hours notice that cars must be moved for snow clearing.
For snow-removal operations between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.: The sign must by posted before 8 p.m. the evening before.
For snow-removal operations between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.: The sign must be posted before 11 a.m. that day, barring exceptional circumstances.
On the first day after a storm, the sign forbidding parking between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. may be posted before 3 p.m. that day.
In order to speed up the process Montreal is offering free overnight parking (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.) for 2,135 cars in 21 locations across the city.
The snow removal process will take place 24 hours a day, with first priority going to major streets, and locations near schools and hospitals.
By Monday morning nearly one-quarter of Anjou had already been cleared, although in most boroughs the process was just beginning.
Laval clearing streets
Meanwhile in Laval, 500 workers manning 400 vehicles and other equipment will be clearing 4,100 km of sidewalks and streets.
Laval began clearing its major north-south arteries at 7:30 p.m. Monday, and on Tuesday morning began snowblowing operations on secondary streets and roads near schools.
Laval is warning drivers not to park on streets being cleared, with temporary signs banning overnight parking being installed by 3:30 p.m. on the first day of snow clearing, and by 10 a.m. on following days.
Signs warning not to park the following day will be placed by 8:30 p.m.
Drivers who don't move will have their cars towed and be fined $162.
