With the National Weather Service predicting heavy lake effect snow for the Valparaiso area tonight, the City of Valparaiso is once again ramping up snow removal efforts and thanks the community for its cooperation. “Snow removal is a process that doesn’t end when the snow stops falling,” said Matt Evans, Public Works Director. The city’s snow removal team will be at work around the clock to clear more than 150 miles of roadway and 134 cul-de-sacs.
“No matter how well we plan, battling a big snow is challenging. We appreciate the public’s support and regret that plows occasionally block driveway that residents have worked to clear. It’s really an inevitable part of moving lots and lots of snow,” said Evans. “Residents may also help by parking off the street wherever possible so we can safely clear the roadways.”
As a reminder, Valparaiso’s Snow Response policy is:
- While snow is still falling, plows will "cut the centers" of roadways allowing traffic to pass.
- When snowfall lets up, crews return to "curb" the routes, getting as close to the curb as possible to clear all lanes and parking areas in the roadway and allowing access to mailboxes.
- During the night (8 p.m. to 4 a.m.), plow crews concentrate on main arterials. After 4 am, crews work to clear subdivisions with the goal of having clear passage to work and school in the morning.
- Cul-de-sacs are cleared first by the large plow trucks, which travel the outside of the circle along driveway entrances. Later smaller trucks that can more easily maneuver the area will clear the center of the cul-de-sac. These drivers do their best to place the snow in an unobtrusive area.
- Road salt is used judiciously and spread primarily at intersections, railroad crossings, hills, curves, bridges and school zones.
- Please understand that plows cannot clear snow from residents' driveways. Snow from the roadway is pushed from the center to the edges and Public Works can not clear snow from driveways and still maintain safety on all roadways. Homeowners should not place snow cleared from their driveways back into the street.
- City Code prohibits property owners from placing snow from their property (driveways, sidewalks, etc.) in the street. City Code also prohibits parking on the street when snow is in excess of two inches until streets have been cleared. Please refer to City Ordinances 72.51 and 72.53.
This information is also available on the city’s web site at www.valpo.us. Click on “Public Works” and then “Snow Response.”