Messy aftermath to record-breaking snowfall

MONTREAL – Snow-removal crews are hard at work across the city, after 39.2 centimeters of snow covered the southern part of the province.

Environment Canada confirmed the new record set by Tuesday’s snowfall, eclipsing the previous record of 30.5 cm of snow on December 29, 1954.

READ MORE: Winter storm blankets Montreal with snow

City workers began the massive cleanup at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and under a new bylaw, all boroughs have until 7 p.m. on Wednesday to begin snow-removal operations.

“There’s about 2,200 pieces of equipment and about 3,000 workers that are patrolling the streets of Montreal,” said Jacques-Alain Lavallée a city spokesperson for snow removal. “It’s literally an army that has taken over!”

But with more snow in the forecast on Wednesday, residents and drivers across the island will need to be patient, since the city’s blue collar workers will take a break for the New Year, between 7 p.m. on December 31 until 7am on January 2.

READ MORE: Montreal’s first snowstorm too much for one snowplow to handle

The city has 10,000 km of sidewalks and streets to clear, which could take a total of five days.

For more information on snow-removal operations on the island, residents can consult the snow-removal guide provided by the city of Montreal or use the INFO-Neige app.

“We’re adjusting you know, the information is updated as quickly as possible but we just started the operation at seven, so please bear with us,” insisted Lavallée.