Ottawa’s post-ice storm cleanup continues

City crews continue to clean up after a major ice storm on April 5 took down a number of trees and branches in the Ottawa area.

Seven weeks after the incident, the city’s general manager of the public works department, Alain Gonthier said in a release that crews do still have several weeks of work to do in some of the hardest hit areas.

However, seven city wards have already been completely cleared, with three more expected to be added to that list by early next week.

Current debris completion numbers by ward:

Kanata North – 99% complete
Stittsville – 98% complete
Kanata South – 98% complete
Orleans South-Navan – 85% complete
Rideau-Rockcliffe – 82% complete
Gloucester-Southgate – 80% complete
Beacon Hill-Cyrville – 77% complete
Osgoode – 76% complete
College – 67% complete
River – 60% complete
Rideau-Jock – 54% complete
Knoxdale-Merivale- 53% complete
Orleans East-Cumberland – 43% complete
Barrhaven West – 39% complete
Orleans West-Innes – 38% complete
West Carleton-March – 35% complete
Barrhaven East – 23% complete

Completed wards:

Alta Vista
Kitchissippi
Bay
Rideau-Vanier
Somerset
Riverside South-Findlay Creek
Capital

Some of the debris collected has been turned into woodchips which can be picked up for free at various locations across the city. You can find a list here.

Residents with downed trees on their property can also request a replacement through the city’s “Trees in Trust” program.

The City of Ottawa’s leaf and yard waste collection program began for the year on May 15. Residents are reminded that branches must be tied into bundles of less than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length and 60 cm (2 ft.) in width. Individual branches should also be less than 10 cm (4 in.) in diameter to be collected.