Winter Operations

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Winter Operations

Maine winters are famous for a number of reasons. Snowstorms, frigid temperatures, and changing conditions are all part of the mix. People who live here understand how winter weather can adversely affect their daily routine. Saco Department of Public Works (DPW) Winter Operations Program is designed to deal with various weather conditions and minimize the adverse impact on residents, businesses, and visitors.

This is intended to provide information on the city's winter operations program. A brief outline of how the department manages a typical storm is presented. There are links to information sites such as parking bans and mailbox damage; these are indicated by red font.

BACKGROUND
Also see our list of Frequently Asked Questions about snowplowing

Saco DPW maintains approximately 140 miles of streets and sidewalks. During the winter months, the department has the responsibility for plowing and removing snow as well as controlling and treating icy conditions. The department is also responsible for clearing parking lots and driveways at city schools and other public buildings. The department's goal is to provide practical safe access to homes, business, public buildings and medical facilities during winter storms.

Weather and local road conditions are constantly monitored during the winter months. Forecasts are followed closely and are an important tool particularly when tracking large storms. The DPW, Police, and other city departments constantly monitor Road conditions. DPW crews are on call and equipment can be mobilized quickly to treat an icy section of road or address a dangerous situation. Certain areas such as the numbered routes and main roads are designated salt priority areas. These will receive salt only or a high salt mix of sand and salt for surface treatment.

No two storms are identical; weather conditions can vary significantly during the winter months. Different conditions require different tactics and circumstances will dictate the appropriate strategy. The following paragraphs details how the department plans for and manages a typical winter storm.

WHEN A STORM BEGINS
During normal business hours, DPW staff will monitor the weather and dispatch trucks and equipment as required. For nighttime and weekend storms, the Police Department will monitor road conditions. They will contact DPW foremen, should snow or icing develop. These individuals will respond with the appropriate number of trucks and equipment concentrating on main roads. This would ordinarily involve sand or salt runs to keep snow and ice from forming and packing on the road surface. Plowing operations would begin as needed. Major routes and arteries are the first priority followed by secondary roads and connectors. The objective is to keep roads safe and passable and prevent unmanageable accumulations in long duration storms.

If a significant storm is predicted a parking ban may be ordered and the Transfer Station will be closed. The parking ban will prohibit parking on city streets allowing the crews to perform their job quickly and efficiently. Closing the Transfer Station will allow the department to have more personnel available to fight the storm. Trash and recycle collection typically goes as scheduled. Contact BBI Waste at: 934-3880 to confirm collection on storm days.

AS THE STORM CONTINUES
As the snow accumulates the effort shifts to plowing and removal. By this time, additional drivers have been called in to begin working their assigned plow routes. A combination of apparatus is used including plow trucks, front-end loaders, and sidewalk equipment. All plow trucks are equipped to spread salt, sand, or a mixture of both. Resources are assigned based on factors such as the lane miles, the type of road i.e. main road, residential area, and other considerations. Additionally Saco has several cul-de-sac and dead ends, which are plowed by smaller one-ton trucks. These are usually the last to be cleared.

At this point, the goal is to keep the travel lanes open, minimize accumulation, and maintain passable conditions on the main roads. As the storm diminishes, drivers will go back over all routes to clean up and widen the roadways and intersections. Salt and sand will be applied to treat road surfaces. It may take 3 to 4 hours to complete a typical plow route, significant accumulations may occur during intense storms. Be prepared and be patient we will clear the streets.
Driveways are always an issue. DPW crews are sensitive to this problem; however there is no practical way to plow snow without affecting driveways. The drivers will do their best to minimize filling in or blocking driveways. The graphic below shows how a driveway can be cleared to minimize the effect of snow removal equipment on the entrance. Shoveling or moving the snow in the direction of traffic, and making a pocket next to the driveway will allow snow accumulation on the plow to drop into the space and decrease the amount left at the driveway entrance.

AFTER THE STORM:
Once the storm has ended, all secondary and minor roads will be cleared. The entire city will receive "another pass" to insure the roads are in a satisfactory condition. Salt and sand will be used to treat icy spots and packed snow. At this point, the focus shifts entirely to sidewalks and snow removal.

SIDEWALKS
There are approximately 28 miles of sidewalk that need to be cleared and treated. The first priority is the downtown business district and school zones (the requirement is to clear a one mile radius around all schools in the city). Once these have been cleaned up the crews work into other areas. The city has two sidewalk tractors; it typically takes 3 to 5 days to completely clear sidewalks. On narrow streets, it may not be possible to clear the walks until snow is removed from the street, so the walks may be unavailable for a week or more.

SNOW REMOVAL
Snow is removed for two primary reasons: to clear streets and sidewalks for vehicle and pedestrian traffic and to provide space for future snow accumulation. The downtown area is completed first. This includes Main Street, Gooch Hill, Pepperell Square and selected side streets. Once this is complete, the crews move into residential areas. Snow removal is done during daylight hours due to concerns over noise and truck traffic to and from the city snow dump located on Cumberland Avenue. This is a slow process and it will take several weeks to finish the job. It is not unusual to have another storm hit, starting the process again.

Department Contact Information
Calls and inquiries should be made to DPW at 284-6641.
If you wish you can email. Key personnel are listed below:

Mike Bolduc - Director: mbolduc@sacomaine.org
Pat Fox - Deputy Director: pfox@sacomaine.org
Amy Oliver - Administrative Assistant: aoliver@sacomaine.org
Angela Blanchette - City Engineer: ablanchette@sacomaine.org

HELP US DO THE JOB

Make certain vehicles are ready for winter and avoid driving during winter storms unless necessary. Use caution and be aware that there will be a number of public and private snow removal vehicles on the road.

Reduce your speed. This is the #1 cause of winter accidents.

Please do not park in the roadway or shoulder area during a storm. This allows equipment to clear the area the first time through without having to return to clean it up later. A parking ban may be enacted to control parking. Vehicles may be towed if they interfere with our work. Also, please do not place any rocks, marker posts or similar obstructions within 6 feet of the road edge. We need to plow out this area for drainage and to provide space for snow from future storms.

Do not shovel, blow or plow snow from driveways into or across the road. This practice is prohibited by city ordinance and can cause a serious traffic hazard. If possible, it is best to place snow on the side of the driveway opposite the direction from which the plow is coming. That way, the plow will carry snow away from the driveway rather than back into it.

When possible, wait until the street has been plowed before cleaning out the end of the driveway. There is no practical way to plow a street without depositing snow into driveways. Please understand the City cannot go back and shovel or plow out the end of any private driveway.

Help reduce the possibility of a broken or damaged property including mailboxes post. All plow operators are urged to take precautions to avoid hitting anything. Reduced visibility and slippery conditions make it difficult for drivers to see objects in time to avoid striking them. Any installation within the highway right-of-way, including a mailbox, is placed there at the owner's risk. Therefore, owners are encouraged to put mailboxes at the furthest practical distance back from the paved surface, at a mounting height of at least 42". Reflectors are useful and should be mounted to be visible from all approaches. Posts should be checked periodically for deterioration or rot to reduce the possibility of their being broken off simply by the weight of plowed snow.

Public Works does not have a dispatcher on duty except during normal workdays from 7 am to 4 pm (call 284-6641). During a bad storm please call only when absolutely necessary. For emergencies, contact the Police Department at 284-4535.

Do not be confused by plow trucks riding with their plows up. They may be going in for fuel, repairs, or headed for another area.
Finally, please be patient. The city has approximately 110 centerline miles of roadway and approximately 28 miles of sidewalk to clear. Snow removal is an arduous and time-consuming job; we strive to accomplish this task in a safe and timely manner.