Snow Plowing
- "Flurry Facts" Pamphlet: A brief overview of how, when, why and where the Village of Lombard performs ice removal and snow plowing.
- Snow Operations Story Map
- Snow Plan (PDF)
When will my street be plowed?
Public Works maintains 145 center-lane-miles and 290 lane-miles of roadway. The policy is really as simple as... the busier the street, the higher the priority. Crews work around the clock in nine zones.
1. All streets accessible for emergency vehicles
2. Arterial & collector streets passable for general public
3. Local streets passable for general public
4. Arterial & collector streets to normal conditions
5. Commuter parking lots and public buildings accessible
6. Corners pushed back within two blocks of schools
7. Local streets to normal conditions
8. Alleys accessible
9. Snow removed from middle of certain lengths of Main Street, St. Charles Rd. and Westmore-Meyers Rd.
10. Corners pushed back everywhere
What rules do I need to follow during a snow event for safe snow removal?
Local ordinances are meant to allow snow removal to be done as efficiently and safely as possible. Two main rules to remember are:Do not place snow onto a street, sidewalk or alley.
After one inch of snowfall, and sometimes sooner, trucks have their plows down, which increases the chances for an accident with a parked car. Side view mirrors are an occasional casualty of cars unlawfully parked on the street. In addition, the inability to clear the entire road will either delay the operation or leave an un-cleared area. The Police Department has the ability to issue tickets and have vehicles towed.Why can’t the plow avoid plowing snow into my driveway?
The plows push snow toward the curb, so with no barrier curb, a driveway opening will of course accept more snow. In order to minimize the amount in the driveway, leave snow in place for the last foot of the driveway until the snow removal operation is done, which is after the streets have been cleared to the curb face. Another suggestion is to leave a pocket for the snow to fall into (see diagram).
What are those lines on the streets?
Crews spray a brine solution onto the busy streets in anticipation of snow or ice. This solution consists mostly of normal salt brine, but sometimes with a portion of calcium chloride (for low temperatures) and beet juice (to reduce the chloride content and enhance adherence). This enables safer travel at the start of a storm, more time for crews to mobilize after hours (especially in the middle of the night), eliminates overtime for minor accumulations, and reduces the amount of chlorides entering our receiving waterways.The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has identified chlorides as a pollutant that harms the ability of waterways to host fish and the insects that they rely upon. Lombard and our neighboring communities have been actively reducing the amount of chlorides (most notably, rock salt) used in the watersheds of the East Branch DuPage River and Salt Creek. The use of anti-icing before a storm helps greatly in this manner. Brine is also sprayed onto rock salt as it is dispersed from trucks in order to reduce the scatter off the street and make it work faster. Lombard has been able to reduce its salt application rate by half as a result of these practices, thus saving money and doing better for our environment.
Why is snow plowed into the center of Main, St. Charles and Westmore-Meyers?
Certain lengths of these roads have sidewalk directly adjacent to the curb and heavy pedestrian use. As a result, crews push snow into a “windrow” in the middle of the road. The windrow is either melted if pavement temperatures allow or removed by a truck-mounted snow-blower and semi-trucks after plowing has been completed throughout the Village.
How do I get my mailbox repaired?
Roadside mailboxes are sometimes damaged if they are hanging over the curb or if the snow is particularly heavy. Public Works will repair or replace mailboxes damaged by the Village’s snow removal effort. When a mailbox is damaged beyond repair, a temporary box is placed until Spring when the resident is offered a choice of either a new standard mailbox or up to a $75.00 reimbursement toward the cost to purchase and install a different style of mailbox themselves. Damaged mailboxes can be reported through Report A Concern.Get to know your snow plow driver!
When winter weather threatens to impact our area, our Public Works crews gear up and head out to help keep our Village roads safe. These individuals are our first line of defense when it comes to winter weather. They are the unsung heroes who work overnight shifts in winter storms, to keep us safe. Ever wonder about the people who plow your streets? From their favorite sports teams, to the names of their family and pets, get to know your snow plow driver!Who is responsible for sidewalk clearing of snow in front of businesses?
In response to citizen and property owner requests, the Village has reviewed and updated its Code related to the removal of snow and ice on public sidewalks.
The amendments are aimed at improving the safety of sidewalk segments that are commonly utilized by pedestrians.
The changes include increasing the required path of clearance from 3 feet to 5 feet. Additionally, the amendments clarify that property owners are responsible to clear the abutting sidewalks, as well as the sidewalk areas leading up to intersections on corners.
Village Code has previously required public sidewalk clearing for all commercial properties in Lombard, regardless of location. The amended Code provisions will require the clearing of all public sidewalks along the following street segments, regardless of the zoning designation:
- St. Charles Road from Elizabeth Street to Martha Street;
- Main Street from Grove Avenue to Washington Boulevard;
- Park Avenue from Orchard Terrace to McGuire Drive; and
- Westmore-Meyers Road from Division Street to North Broadway.
Clearing of sidewalks will be required within 24 hours of the end of each snow event. Failure to do so may result in follow up action from the Village’s Code Enforcement staff.
Please contact Code Enforcement at (630) 620-5757 for more information.
What can I do to be ready for a winter storm?
Preparedness is key! Winter in the Chicagoland area is not joke. When it comes to cold weather and hazardous driving conditions, taking a few minutes to prepare ahead of time can make all the difference when faced with a winter storm, extreme temperatures or a power outage. Visit Ready.gov for tips on preparedness. Should you be in need of a warming site, locations can be found on DuPage County’s Office of Emergency Management web page.How much salt should I use on my residential driveway?
- Apply salt before snow fall to prevent bonding. This makes snow/ice easier to remove, and uses less salt.
- Use masonry sand to help prevent slippery surfaces.
- Let the sun do the melting.
Where can I learn more?
Updates regarding major storm response will be available on this page during the event. Questions regarding snow plowing may be directed to publicworks@villageoflombard.org or (630) 620-5740. Other roadway agencies working during storms include IDOT on the State routes (View IDOT’s Road Condition Map), DuDOT on the County roads, and York and Milton Townships on their unincorporated roads.