Departments » Public Works Department » Streets Division » Snow Removal

Plowing

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Snow removal is an essential emergency operation to maintain public safety. As such the City has developed procedures to effectively combat snow and ice events by various methods including pretreatment and coordination with Police Department and on-call personnel to mobilize Public Works staff. Snow routes have been developed to prioritize main roads and high traffic areas followed by local streets, cul-de-sacs and dead ends. The Public Works Department also clears certain sidewalks in town to maintain strategic pedestrian routes. 

Keep in mind...

  • Placing snow onto public streets from private driveways and parking lots is illegal. 

  • Public Works cannot clear private driveways. 

  • Always shovel or blow the snow to the left of your driveway; unless your driveway abuts your neighbor’s driveway, then refrain from depositing snow anywhere other than your property.  This will help prevent the plow dumping unnecessary amounts of snow in your driveway.

  • Parking on streets twenty-four (24) hours following a 2” or greater snowfall is prohibited.  The reason being most snow falls below 1.5” inches can be handled as a salting operation.  Snow falling in excess of 2” involve plowing snow which necessitates operators be able to clear or “curb” the streets.  Cars parked along residential streets not only limit curb access but greatly increase the time operators take to complete snow removal by increasing the amount of obstacles.

     

  • Please do not deposit snow on or around fire hydrants or in the City Streets. Residents with fire hydrant located on their property are asked to clear the snow around the hydrant three feet in all directions to allow for quick access by the Fire Department in the event of an emergency. 

     

  • Private streets and parking areas in multi-family planned unit developments or private streets in industrial areas will not be plowed by the City of Wood Dale.  Snow removal in these areas is the responsibility of a private contractor hired by the property owners association.

     

The Department understands that at times residents may accumulate large amounts of snow at the ends of their driveways or parkways, this is unavoidable.  The equipment is designed to push snow in a certain direction.  Operators do not have the ability to pick up or place snow in certain areas.  Cul-de-sacs are especially difficult as either way an operator angles his plow the snow will be pushed to the outer edge of the cul-de-sac the operator circles.  Operators will use good judgment in plowing events to plow snow in such a way to avoid sight issues at intersections. 

Public Works relies on notification from a weather service provider during working hours.  This information includes daily forecast notifications including pavement temperatures.  The forecasts allow the division to coordinate appropriate response activities with regard to staffing and resources.  The weather service provider and the police notify Public Works after normal working hours and during weekends when road conditions require an immediate or impending snow and/or ice control response.

Click here for to view the Snow Removal Frequently Asked Questions.

If you wish to report an icy street that needs additional attention, please contact the Public Works Department, 630-350-3530, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  After hours, please contact the Wood Dale Police Department non-emergency line at 630-766-2060.