> Departments > Public Works > Winter Road Information

The Public Works Department maintains 140 lane miles of road and 30 lane miles of State road during winter operations. Salting is done when the storm begins and continues throughout. After 3 to 5 inches of snow has accumulated, plowing begins; 6 or more inches of accumulation calls for roads to be opened and made passable. A roll-back is done as snow tapers off; roll-backs are performed to open roads completely from curb to curb. The roll-back operation requires crews to double that 140 miles of road. During periods of heavy winds, roaming plow units are often on 24-hour rotation; the crews open drifting roads and salt as necessary. During adverse conditions, the roadway system is monitored 24-hours a day by the Police and Public Works Departments. Every attempt is made to dispatch trucks before the roads begin to freeze. During periods of heavy snowfall, several salting applications are made before plowing actually begins.

The primary goal of snow and ice control operations is to ensure that emergency response vehicles have safe and efficient access to roads. The Township is divided into four geographic sectors and, within these sectors, all roads are identified and divided into four "Demand Service Levels" (DSLs). This priority rating ensures that, at any given time, emergency response vehicles have access to all sectors, roads or residences.

The four DSL priorities are:

1) all major State and other arterial roads
2) all collector roads;
3) all residential developments and cul-de-sac roads; and
4) all stone and other low volume roads.

This does not mean that residents living on stone roads or cul-de-sacs won't have emergency access as quickly as those living on major arterial roads. Township and contracted units are in constant radio communication with the Police Department. This communication allows all units to respond immediately, thereby ensuring that the roads are opened. Although some roads are lower on the DSL rating, all roads should be serviced (with at least one plow pass) within three to four hours after the units are dispatched.

Mailboxes and Other Fixed Objects: The Township is not responsible for plowing around mailboxes. Complaints that mailboxes have been knocked down are often received. It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that their mailbox is installed, and maintained, to withstand heavy winds and snow.

If a property owner can demonstrate that a mailbox was struck by a Township vehicle, our policy is to replace the box and /or post. It is, however, the responsibility of the property owner to perform the installation. The Township does not replace mailboxes knocked down as a result of rotted posts or other negligence. Mailboxes must be at least 6" behind the face of curb or cartway.

The Township is not responsible for damage occurring to basketball poles and/or nets placed in the Township right-of-way or extending over the roadway; however, the property owner is responsible for any damage to a Township vehicle as a result of these objects. These object are not only unsafe, but are illegal as well; children should not play in the streets. We are asking for your help during the winter snow and ice operations by removing such objects from Township rights-of-way.

Driveways: The Township is not responsible for plowing open driveways. We don't deliberately try to plow in your driveway! It is our responsibility to open the roads as quickly as possible to accommodate emergency vehicles and traveling motorists.

Plows are not capable of picking up snow and moving it to another place. If at all possible, we suggest that you wait to until the plowing operations are complete before clearing your driveway. Each year, accidents occur as a result of snow being thrown back onto a roadway by property owners. Remember: It is illegal to throw snow onto the roadway! If you must clear your driveway before plowing is completed, clear an area well before and after your driveway so that the plow will cast the snow before your driveway and not in your driveway.

Please be assured that if you don't see a snow plow pass, it's not because we forgot about you. Please be patient as it takes time for crews to get around in adverse conditions.

Phone lines to the Township should be left open for possible emergencies; phone calls tie up crews who should be tending to snow fighting operations.