New measures to help keep roads in better condition and safer for everyone. Supports snow clearing crews get to where they need to plow.
City services | July 10, 2026
Reducing road salt to protect the environment
Starting this winter, the City’s Low Road Salt Strategy will reduce winter salt use.
The City already has a Salt Management Plan that includes pre-treating roads with brine, plowing more often, using advanced weather watch technology and using treated salt on colder days.
The new Low Road Salt Strategy will build on the City’s Salt Management Plan and further reduce the City’s salt use by:
- Using more anti-icing brine—salt water—on 20 per cent more roads. This saves up to 650 tonnes of salt each winter.
- Plowing snow earlier on select major roads so less salt is needed. This saves up to 3,450 tonnes of salt each winter.
- Testing magnesium-treated road salt on select sidewalks and bus stops. This works well on surfaces for longer and may lessen the need to reapply salt.
- In the spring of 2027, testing the use of Halophytes. These are salt-tolerant plants that can take salt out of soils.
Fewer parked cars, easier snow clearing
The City declares a citywide winter parking restriction when it needs to plow snow. In 2025, the City put in place citywide winter parking restrictions. During the restriction, the five-hour on-street parking limit is suspended and drivers can’t park on the street.
Changes approved by Council will now include 15-hour parking areas when a citywide winter parking restriction is called.
Mississauga has four to eight snowstorms a year that require plowing. Roads are plowed when five centimetres of snow has fallen. Parked cars make it harder to clear the width of the street. This causes delays and increases costs.
With fewer parked cars, crews can:
- Clear roads safely and efficiently.
- Reduce repeat visits to streets with parked cars on the road.
- Maintain suitable service levels for residents.
