The town of Saugeen Shores is adding another 20 kilometres of sidewalk clearing to the winter operations plan thanks to the purchase of a new sidewalk plow.
Council approved the plan at Monday's meeting, with the costs already included in the current budget. The updated snow clearing plan also includes another six kilometres of roads.
“We are very pleased to enhance sidewalk snow clearing services in neighborhoods right across Saugeen Shores,” said Mayor Luke Charbonneau. “Thanks to the Town’s investment in a new sidewalk plow we are now able to provide residents a safer, pedestrian-friendly community throughout our winter months.”
Charbonneau added that the expanded winter sidewalk maintenance represents a 33 per cent increase.
"It's only because the community is growing that we are able to buy new sidewalk snow plows and able to enhance levels of service across existing neighborhoods in the municipalities," Charbonneau pointed out.
Councillor Bud Halpin said the program will cost a little more, but it is what the people want.
"We're not just talking the talk," he continued. "We're walking the walk and plowing the walks when it comes to providing active transport for people, for promoting that active transport, and for making it a more walking friendly environment."
Of the additional 20 km of sidewalks added to the Town’s Winter Maintenance Plan, approximately half are due to recent construction since 2020, and half to existing sidewalks in Southampton beginning maintenance in the winter of 2025/2026, thanks to the new sidewalk plow route.