Laval Unveils New Snow-Clearing Equipment and 5,000 Smart Signs Ahead of First Winter Storm
Credit Laval Weekly Christophe Labelle
With the season’s first snowfall expected tomorrow, the City of Laval presented the upgrades it has made to improve snow-clearing operations. Mayor Stéphane Boyer, joined by executive committee member and city councillor Nicholas Borne, outlined the new investments and technologies during a media briefing at the municipal garage on Cunard Street. A visit of the facilities followed, guided by Nadeem Bhatti, Chief of Operations for Public Works.
A modernized fleet
The City confirmed almost 25 million dollars in planned investments by 2027 to renew part of its snow-clearing fleet. Laval estimates the total value of its equipment for winter operations at 40 million dollars.
New acquisitions include:
- 14 interchangeable-box trucks that can switch from road work to snow operations (7 million dollars)
- 35 sidewalk snow-clearing vehicles to be delivered in 2026, replacing older Bombardier units (9.5 million dollars)
- 19 spreading trucks to be acquired by 2027 (estimated at 7 million dollars)
- 4 blowers replaced this fall (800,000 dollars)
- 12 rented trailers to support the transport of snow
These investments do not include spending related to the new dynamic signage system.
According to Boyer and Borne, the goal is to offer faster and more efficient operations while reducing disruptions for residents.
5,000 smart signs now active
The most significant change this year is the installation of 5,000 remotely controlled smart signs. Powered by solar energy, the signs activate a few hours before snow-clearing operations begin and switch off once the street has been cleared. They are currently deployed in Laval’s busiest sectors between Highways 13, 19 and 440, and the Rivière des Prairies.
City officials noted that this system is a first in Quebec.
Mayor Boyer said the signs will help improve efficiency and reduce costs, adding that residents expect clear information during winter operations.
The signs work together with the updated Info-Stationnement app, which now offers alerts, interactive maps and real-time updates. According to results from a pilot project completed earlier in 2025, 98.4 percent of residents consulted found the system easy to understand. The City is considering expanding the network to as many as 50,000 smart signs across Laval in the future.
Operations ready for the season
Laval’s snow-clearing capacity includes:
- 740 vehicles
- More than 500 employees working around the clock
- Partnerships with private contractors valued at 20 million dollars
The City is responsible for clearing 3,200 kilometres of roads and 1,300 kilometres of sidewalks — a distance comparable to a trip from Laval to Vancouver.
Officials also noted adjustments to spreading rates and other environmental considerations as part of the winter operations plan.
First test expected tomorrow
With 10 to 15 centimetres of snow forecast, the upcoming storm will be the first opportunity to put both the new fleet additions and the smart-sign network to the test.
