If you looked outside your window this morning and still saw piles of white where you’d like to park your car, take note: snow removal operations have resumed in Montreal.

As of 6 p.m., 40 per cent of snow removal operations were completed, and the city aims to be at at least 40 per cent by the end of the evening.

Snow removal operations had ceased across Quebec for a mandatory 36-hour break over the New Year holiday -- from 7 p.m. Thursday until 7 a.m. Saturday.

In Montreal, more than 3,000 employees and 2,200 units are now back to work, clearing some 10,000 kilometres of streets and sidewalks.

Major arteries, major shopping streets, bus routes and bus lanes, hospital entrances and very narrow streets are given priority.

While the city has initially hoped to complete operations by Monday, it is now pushing that date back to Wednesday, given, they say, the significant amount of snow that fell. As much as 40 centimetres of snow blanketed the city beginning Dec. 29.

An additional 4 to 8 centimetres of snow is expected to fall between Saturday night and early Monday morning, but this new snowfall is not expected to slow the operation.

The city tested out a new snow removal strategy this season: Rather than have boroughs dictating when trucks go out, Montreal synchronized operations to ensure comparable service. Now roads must be cleared when 10 centimetres of snow falls.

While 37 per cent of snow had been removed as of 6 p.m., the status of boroughs varied. Anjou and Lachine were the furthest along, with 69 and 56 per cent completed, respectively. Furthest behind was Plateau-Mont-Royal at 23 per cent, and Saint-Laurent at 24 per cent completed.
 


The operation is expected to cost the city $20 million out of its $160 million annual snow clearing budget.

The city is still asking residents to download the Info Neige app or check out the website, which shows the progress of snow-clearing operations and tells you where and when you can park on the street, as well as where the city's free parking lots are located. About 5,700 free parking spaces are available to drivers across the city between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. for when they can't park on the street.

If you did not remove your car during snow clearing operations, it may have been towed to a neighbouring street. To find it, click here.