Services
- Customer Self Service (CSS)
- FOIA Requests
- Food Trucks
- Garbage and Recycling
- Historic Preservation
- Map Services
- Parking
- Permits
- Public Safety Education
- Self-Inspection Checklist
- Service Requests
-
Snow and Ice Removal
- Social Services Referrals
- Street Maintenance
- Stormwater Management
- Stormwater Utility
- Tree Maintenance
- Utility Bill
- Vendor Self Services
Snow and Ice Removal
The Village is responsible for snow and ice removal from Village streets, Village parking lots and sidewalks in the Downtown business disrict. The Village's goal is to maintain safe travel routes during and following snowstorms, as well as to restore mobility for the traveling public within a reasonable time frame following cessation of storm conditions.
The Snow and Ice Policy details the areas which are plowed and salted by the Village, work crew rotations, and equipment assignments.
Street Priority System
Winter operations begin when hazardous road surfaces are expected.
Streets are prioritized based on average daily traffic volumes. see MAP
- Priority 1 (Red): Primary roadways with the highest traffic volume, roadways adjacent to schools, and roadways leading to Good Samaritan Hospital. These streets have daily traffic volumes of 2,000 to 10,000 cars, with some as high as 20,000 cars. Priority 1 streets are targeted for completion 12 hours after the storm’s completion .
- Priority 2 (Blue): All other secondary roadways with average daily traffic of 200 to 1,999 cars. Priority 2 streets are targeted for completion 12 hours after the storm’s completion .
- Priority 3 (Green): Cul-de-sacs and dead-ends with average daily traffic of less than 200 cars . Work to complete all Priority 3 areas begins as operations continue on Priority 2 areas, with a goal of completing all priority areas as early as possible. Priority 3 areas are targeted for completion 18 hours after the storm’s completion.
Winter Driving Tips
Winter conditions call for different driving tactics. Ice and snow, take it slow : Slower speed, slower acceleration, slower steering, and slower braking.
- Slow down for wet, snowy, or icy conditions; when visibility is poor; or when conditions are changing or unpredictable.
- Increase the car length between vehicles in front of you and give yourself plenty of room to stop . Stopping on snow and ice requires extra time and distance. Even if you drive an SUV with four-wheel drive, you may not be able to stop any faster, or maintain control any better, once you lose traction. Four-wheel drive may get you going faster, but it won't help you stop sooner.
- If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don't have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Brake early, brake correctly, and never slam on the brakes.
- Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots. These are all candidates for developing black ice - a thin coating of clear ice that can form on the pavement surface that may be difficult to see.
- When driving in adverse road conditions, look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by other vehicles will alert you to problems more quickly, and give you that split-second of extra time to react safely.
- Merge slowly into traffic, since sudden movements can cause your vehicle to slide.
- Avoid excessive actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen the chances of losing control of the vehicle.
- Don't take chances when pulling out in front of approaching vehicles. Remember, they may not be able to slow down and you may not be able to accelerate as quickly as on dry pavement.
- Remember to accelerate gradually .
- Avoid using cruise control in winter driving conditions. You need to be in control of when your vehicle accelerates based on road conditions - don't let the cruise control make a bad decision for you.
Safe Travel around Snowplows
- Don't crowd the plow . Snowplows plow far and wide, sometimes VERY wide. The front plow extends several feet in front of the truck and may cross the centerline and shoulders during plowing operations.
- Don't tailgate or stop too close behind snowplows . Snow plows are usually spreading de-icing materials from the back of the truck and may need to stop or take evasive action to avoid stranded vehicles. If you find yourself behind a snow plow, stay behind it or use caution when passing. The road behind a snow plow will be safer to drive on.
- On multiple lane roads, watch for snow plows operating in either lane.
- Don't travel beside a plow for long periods. When plowing through a snowdrift or packed snow, the impact can move the truck sideways.
- Snow plows can throw up a cloud of snow that can reduce your visibility to zero in less time than you can react. Drive smart. Never drive into a snow cloud- it could conceal a snow plow.
- Snow plows travel much slower than the posted speeds while removing snow and ice from the roads. When you spot a plow, allow plenty of time to slow down.
- A snow plow operator's field of vision is restricted. You may see them but they may not see you.
- Plows turn and exit the road frequently. Give them plenty of room.
What is Anti-Icing?
Anti-icing involves the application of liquid products to the roadway before a winter storm begins and is the most effective approach to prevent icy and snow-compacted roads. The products used form a barrier between the pavement and the snow and ice layer, which enables snow to melt more quickly and reduces the chance that ice will form and bond to the surface. It is similar to how cooking oil prevents food from sticking to the frying pan.
The use of anti-icing products reduces the amount of time required to restore the roads to a clear, dry state. The effectiveness of the treatment is most dependent upon having the right amount of anti-icing liquid in the right place, at the right time.
What's that stuff you're spraying on the streets?
The liquid being applied to the streets is a solution of 70% saltwater (salt brine), 20% sugar beet solution (Geomelt) and 10 % calcium chloride.
Are anti-icing products harmful?
Although salt can be corrosive to vehicles, the addition of a sugar beet by-product (which is brown in color and also used to sweeten livestock feed) reduces the corrosiveness of the salt. Test results show that the sugar beet by-product and salt brine mixture is only one-third as corrosive as salt.
Does applying an anti-icing liquid make roads slippery?
The amount of anti-icing liquid applied to the roadway is unlikely to make roads slippery; however, motorists should always remain at least 500 feet behind a vehicle applying an anti-icing liquid. When applied before a storm, the anti-icing liquid typically dries within 45 minutes, leaving a thin layer of product on the road surface. It can go through a slurry phase after it is applied if temperature or humidity unexpectedly rises. Although this may cause the road to feel slightly slippery, it is still a much safer surface than snow and ice.
What are the benefits of anti-icing compared to traditional methods?
- Reduced use of salt, which lessens the impact on the environment.
- Snow and ice control cost savings results in benefits to the Village and the public.
- Improved winter roadway conditions results in safer driving conditions for motorists.
- Lower accident rates - Colorado experienced an average decrease of 14% in snow- and ice-related crashes during a 12-year study utilizing the anti-icing process on the interstate system in the Denver metro area.
What other methods are used to control snow and ice?
Pre-wetting is the application of liquid to salt to help jump start the melting process. Dry salt must change into a liquid solution to melt snow and ice. Since dry salt is prone to scatter or blow, the addition of liquid helps the salt mixture stay on the road where it needs to be.
De-icing is the application of liquids after snow and ice has compacted to the roadway. This process takes three times the resources to remove compacted snow and ice, as compared to an effective application of anti-icing product. The same effect is experienced by property owners who have had to remove snow from a driveway after driving on it several times.
Winter Operations
The Village is divided into 10 routes for winter operations: snow plowing, salting and application of preventive application of pavement de-icers.
See the Winter Operations Priority Street Map to view your street's priority.
Snow and Ice Plan
Watch this video to learn how we tackle snow and ice.
Residential Property
Sidewalks
Residents and/or property owners are encouraged to shovel their sidewalks. This helps keep pedestrians safe, including children walking to school.
Please do not blow or place snow into the street as this is in violation of the Municipal Code.
DuPage County Roads
Questions or concerns about the following roads and sections should be directed to:
DuPage County Department of Transportation
- 31st St.
- 55th St. (Dunham Rd to eastern Village limits)
- 63rd St.
- 75th St.
- Belmont Rd.
- Fairview Ave. (Ogden Ave. to 31st St.)
- Finley Rd
- Highland Ave. (39th St. to Butterfield Rd.)
- Hobson Rd.
- Main St. (55th St. to 75th St.)
- Main St. (Ogden Ave. to 39th St.)
- Maple Ave. (I-355 to Dunham Rd.)
- Warrenville Rd.
State Roads
Butterfield Rd. and Ogden Ave. are maintained by the State.
Questions and concerns about about these roads may be directed to:
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Region 1
Serving DuPage, Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane and Will Counties
201 W. Center Court
Schaumburg, Illinois 60196-1096
General: 847.705.4000
Incident Report: 847.705.4222
Claims: 847.705.4401
Winter Operations
The Village is divided into 10 routes for winter operations: snow plowing, salting and application of preventive application of pavement de-icers.
See the Winter Operations Priority Street Map to view your street's priority.
Snow and Ice Plan
Watch this video to learn how we tackle snow and ice.
Residential Property
Sidewalks
Residents and/or property owners are encouraged to shovel their sidewalks. This helps keep pedestrians safe, including children walking to school.
Please do not blow or place snow into the street as this is in violation of the Municipal Code.
DuPage County Roads
Questions or concerns about the following roads and sections should be directed to:
DuPage County Department of Transportation
- 31st St.
- 55th St. (Dunham Rd to eastern Village limits)
- 63rd St.
- 75th St.
- Belmont Rd.
- Fairview Ave. (Ogden Ave. to 31st St.)
- Finley Rd
- Highland Ave. (39th St. to Butterfield Rd.)
- Hobson Rd.
- Main St. (55th St. to 75th St.)
- Main St. (Ogden Ave. to 39th St.)
- Maple Ave. (I-355 to Dunham Rd.)
- Warrenville Rd.
State Roads
Butterfield Rd. and Ogden Ave. are maintained by the State.
Questions and concerns about about these roads may be directed to:
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Region 1
Serving DuPage, Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane and Will Counties
201 W. Center Court
Schaumburg, Illinois 60196-1096
General: 847.705.4000
Incident Report: 847.705.4222
Claims: 847.705.4401
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