Cleanup continues in northeastern Ontario after region hit with major snowstorm
Several organizations and groups in Greater Sudbury, Ont. remain closed or operating under a modified schedule after a major storm hit the region Sunday night.
Sudbury’s Mayor Paul Lefebvre says snow removal crews have been working around the clock to clear streets after the storm left thick, ice-covered snow across the region.
Lefebvre says about 60 per cent of residential streets had been cleared as of Tuesday morning, though the work is slower than usual because crews need specialized equipment.
“This has been historic and the snow is thick and heavy,” Lefebvre said. “Usually you’ll just see a plow go by your house and push the snow away, but we got to do this with graders and loaders on side streets as well. So it’s very complicated, takes a lot more time.”
Many residential streets remain narrowed to a single lane, and Lefebvre says people should consider staying home unless travel is necessary.
The mayor says crews will continue working throughout the day, with the goal of restoring municipal services — including recreation centres, libraries and city offices — by Wednesday if conditions allow.
Across northeastern Ontario, several highways also remain closed, including:
Highway 11 from North Bay to Longlac
Highway 101 from Wawa to Foleyet
Highway 144 from Cartier to Timmins
Highway 631 from White River to Palmquist
Highway 655 from Timmins to Driftwood
Power outages are also affecting parts of the region. Utility crews with Hydro One are working to restore electricity to communities surrounding Sudbury and on Manitoulin Island. Restoration is expected sometime Tuesday evening.
At Health Sciences North in Sudbury, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, dialysis and cancer surgeries resumed Tuesday after being paused for one day due to the storm.
Hospital communications director Jason Turnbull says emergency services continued throughout the storm but staff struggled to get to work.
He says some staff were unable to reach the hospital because of road conditions, while others stayed overnight. Turnbull says some workers arrived by snowshoe and snowmobile.
Snowmobiles are being use to navigate some residential streets in Sudbury. (Markus Schwabe/CBC)
Staff are currently working to reschedule cancelled appointments from the storm’s impact.
Visitors are also being advised to plan ahead, as some on-site services — including Tim Hortons locations — are experiencing staffing shortages.
This article, written by Faith Greco, was originally published by CBC News.