City of Pontiac issued the following announcement on Jan. 11.
Snow Removal in Pontiac
Winter weather poses many challenges for the Street Department. It is our goal to make roadways passable and as safe as possible during a winter storm. By its nature, winter weather causes unsafe road conditions. We can reduce, but not totally eliminate those conditions.
Winter weather can take on many forms ranging from sleet and freezing rain to heavy snowfall. How we handle a winter storm can vary due to the conditions that are present at the time. Weather conditions including temperature pre and post storm, wind, amount of snow, ice, ground temperature, and storm duration have an impact on how a storm is dealt with.
View the complete City of Pontiac Winter Storm Policy & Procedures Guide (PDF)
How We Fight a Storm
Salting and Salt Routes - Less than 2 Inches of Snow
Rock salt is applied to the streets on the salt route as conditions warrant at the beginning of, and during a storm. After a storm has generated two or more inches of snow, plowing operations begin and salting stops until the storm has passed. Only streets on the salt route are salted. Side streets are not salted regardless of conditions.
Maintaining passage on main arterial streets allows navigation for motorists to residential neighborhoods, business districts, and to the hospital. This also allows emergency services better access to neighborhoods. Find the combined salt and snow route map (PDF)).
Plowing and Snow Routes - 2 or More inches of Snow
Plowing does not take place until 2” of snow has fallen on the roadways.
Snow Route streets are main arterial streets and are given priority when plowing. (See Salt and Snow Map above)
Parking on Snow Routes: The snow route automatically takes effect after two inches of snow. Parking is restricted on streets designated a snow route until the storm passes and snow is plowed to the curb. Pontiac Police will work with the Street Department to ensure vehicles are removed from the snow route.
Side Streets are secondary streets. Side streets are plowed after a storm has passed and the snow routes have been cleared. During periods of heavy snow (greater than six inches), crews will make an initial pass as time permits to open the roadway. They will return after the storm has passed and plow the snow to the curb line.
Parking on Side Streets: There are currently no restrictions for parking on side streets during a snow storm. However, residents are encouraged to remove vehicles from the roadway if possible. This allows plows to completely remove snow from the roadway.
School Zones: On school days, priority will be given to the streets around schools in order to maintain traffic flow.
On posted snow routes, on-street parking is prohibited after two inches of snowfall until removal. Trucks remain on these routes for the majority of a storm. In the event of heavy snowfall, trucks will make an initial pass down side streets and return to plow to the curb after snow fall has subsided.
Residential Neighborhoods and Alleys
When a storm subsides, plows begin working in residential neighborhoods. During heavy snowfall initial passes are made during the storm. Snow is plowed to the curb line. Alleys are considered a secondary priority and are generally only plowed upon request. It may be up to two days past a storm before alleys are plowed.
Make a Request
Requests can be made to city hall at (815) 844-3396.
Original source can be found here.
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