What Is a City Windrow and Who Clears It?

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Why the windrow forms

Road plows are built to move snow off the travelled lanes as quickly as possible. The blade is angled, so everything it pushes rolls off to the side and lands along the curb. When the plow passes your driveway opening, that roll of snow is dropped right across it. There is nowhere else for it to go, and no road crew can stop at every driveway in a city to lift it out of the way.

The result is a ridge that can be taller and much heavier than the snow sitting on the rest of your driveway. It is not anyone doing a poor job. It is simply how road clearing works in every Canadian city.

Why windrow snow is so heavy

Windrow snow is different from the fresh snow on your lawn. It has been scraped off asphalt, compressed by the blade and often mixed with road salt, slush and grit. That makes it dense and wet. When temperatures drop overnight, a windrow can set up into something closer to ice chunks than snow.

This is why the end of the driveway is where many people strain their backs or break shovels. It is also why a small snowblower can struggle: dense, chunky material clogs the auger and chute far more easily than light powder.

Who is responsible for clearing it

In London, as in most Ontario municipalities, the snow that ends up at the end of a private driveway is the property owner's to deal with. The City clears the road; the driveway, including the opening, is yours. It is worth checking the City of London website for its current rules, especially about where you are allowed to put snow. In general, you should not push or throw driveway snow back onto the road, because it creates a hazard for traffic and can bring the plow back to push it into your neighbour's driveway.

Timing: why the windrow often arrives after you clear

Residential streets are usually plowed after main roads. That means your driveway may be cleared first and the windrow can arrive later the same day or overnight. Anyone who has finished shovelling only to hear the plow coming down the street knows the feeling.

A good snow removal plan allows for this. With our seasonal service, clearing the City windrow is included, and in longer storms we make return visits so the driveway opening is not left blocked.

Practical tips for dealing with windrows

• Clear the windrow as soon as practical, before it freezes into a solid ridge.
• Pile the snow on the downstream side of your driveway (the side the plow comes from is upstream), so less of it gets pushed back in on the next pass.
• Keep the area by the curb clear of bins and parked cars when a storm is forecast so the plow can make a clean pass.
• Never let children dig into or play inside a windrow at the roadside.
• If you rely on getting out early for work, a priority early-morning visit helps you leave on time.

How our seasonal service handles it

Our seasonal plans run from December 1 to March 31. Clearing is automatic every time 5 cm or more falls, so you never need to call or book a visit. In long storms we come back for return visits, and the City windrow at the end of your driveway is cleared as part of the service. Before the season starts we mark your edges, steps and drains so they can be found under snow. After every visit you get a timestamped photo. We are fully insured with $2,000,000 in liability coverage and registered with WSIB. Seasonal salting is available for $175 plus HST and includes freezing rain and refreeze visits, and seniors and front-line workers save 5% on seasonal plans. Prices are fixed for the season: single or 1.5-car driveways are $650 to $725, doubles are $815, and three-car, paver or stamped driveways are $1,050, all plus HST. We measure your property from City of London maps and aerial imagery and send a fixed quote within one business day. A 30% deposit reserves your spot, with the balance due before December 1.

Want this handled for you this winter? Request a free quote and we will measure your property and send a fixed price within one business day, or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also read more about our residential snow removal service and how it works.

What's included… and what's extra

A Thames Valley Snow seasonal residential plan starts from $650 for a standard driveway. It covers clearing the driveway every time snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your agreement, plus the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. Larger driveways are priced on our snow removal prices page.

Popular add-ons, priced per season: walkway and steps $150–175, salting $175, priority service $125, pet-safe salt $120, driveway extension $95 and city sidewalk clearing $90. Add only what your property needs; everything is listed on the quote so there are no surprises. Get your fixed price or call or text (548) 888-8702.