CTV News Ottawa

Updated: Wed Jan. 07 2009 4:28:37 PM
ctvottawa.ca

City crews are prepared to work through the night as they employ 500 pieces of equipment to battle the first winter storm of the new year.

Ten to 15 centimetres of snow are expected to fall on the capital on Wednesday and the total snowfall amount before Thursday morning could reach 20 centimetres.

Lengthy commute

On the roads, blowing snow, slippery roads, and increased traffic volumes due to a public transit strike made the Wednesday commute long and slow for many Ottawa-Gatineau residents.

"We're the coldest capital in the world and it kind of comes part and parcel with living here," said one Ottawa resident.

"You're doing about 50 miles worth of peddling for every mile you actually get somewhere," added another resident, who commutes by bike.

The storm also caused minor delays at Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, where runways were shut down one at a time for clearing.

City works to ease Thursday commute

The last winter storm to hit the capital during the four-week-old public transit strike also caused lengthy delays, particularly for people trying to get in and out of the downtown core. City officials say crews will be focused on snow removal on downtown streets in hopes of preventing a repeat of commuter chaos Thursday morning.

"Our focus is the O'Connor and Metcalfe streets getting in and out of downtown to help traffic flow," said Dan O'Keefe of Ottawa Public Works.

"We may be a little slow getting into the residentials because of the strike we're trying to keep our focus on the artillery road network to keep that moving."

An overnight parking ban in Ottawa is also in place to give city crews extra time to clear streets. Daytime street parking is still permitted in designated areas.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem