Snow banks causing safety concern for residents of Sudbury

Big snow banks in parts of Sudbury are becoming a big problem for some residents. 

In Billy Shkrabek's New Sudbury neighbourhood, the snow bank on his property is taller than most cars. He said he can clear his driveway of snow, but there's not much he can do to ensure he drives off safely. 

"You look and look and of course traffic comes through and hopefully they won't take your front end off."    

• Large snow banks a hazard, Sudbury councillor says

Shkrabek said a city manager told him the snow would be removed — eventually. 

"I feel like they're just passing the buck," he said.

"They're just saying well, we'll get to it. It doesn't matter. Maybe we'll wait for an accident. Maybe somebody will get hurt, and then they'll maybe get it done."

The city did finally remove Shkrabek's snowbank late Wednesday evening.

The city says it clears snow banks that block sight lines at intersections in the most densely populated areas first, which means the downtown core will be tended to more quickly than a residential street. 

Coun. Robert Kirwan told CBC News he would like city staff to adopt a discretionary policy when it comes to these matters. 

"We have to try to find a happy medium and say well not everything has to be written down in the bylaw," he said. "There is a certain thing called common sense and we just have to get back to it."

Snow banks on Lisgar Street in downtown Sudbury are small now thanks to snow removal crews. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcsby?src=hash">#cbcsby</a> <a href="https://t.co/fSMblghRNe">pic.twitter.com/fSMblghRNe</a>

&mdash;@Ostefanovich