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Snow Plowing Updates
by Alan Schumacher, Streets Superintendent posted December 1, 2011 7:48 AM
Light Snow Possible for This Afternoon and EveningNormally, there would not be an update posted for a snow event that is this small with only about 1/4″ of snow possible this afternoon and evening. However, I thought I would take this chance to update everybody on a few minor changes going on for this upcoming winter season.
The salt routes have been updated; the plows, salters, sanders and anti-icing tanks are ready to roll; the supplies of salt, sand, salt brine and GeoMelt (beet juice) are in; the private contractors that are used to help City crews plow all 769 miles of City streets are ready to go and our operator training is continuing.
However, there are a couple of minor changes that will take place this winter. First of all, we will be using an organic de-icer when temperatures fall below 15 degrees this winter that will help salt melt snow and ice when normally salt is ineffective. This organic de-icer is a derivative of beet juice and will be blended with our salt brine when we apply it.
A second change this year will be for those who must travel during a snow event. You can click on the winter website at http://www.cityofmadison.com/residents/winter/SnowIce/findRoute/ and use this application to type in your address of origin and your destination and a google map search will direct you on streets that are on our salt routes and therefore are plowed and salted regularly throughout the snow event.
The final subtle change that people will notice is that new signs are being erected as you enter the City and in the Snow Emergency Zone reminding folks that Madison does have winter parking restrictions. These signs will remind people when they are parking to be aware of the weather conditions and be aware of alternate side parking restrictions.
Now for this storm. We are only expecting about 1/4″of snow to fall this afternoon and evening. Temperatures will be above freezing and pavement temperatures will be above freezing for most of the time that the snow is predicted. We do not expect a lot of problems from this storm but we will be monitoring it throughout the day. In advance of the storm, we will be anti-icing our main arterials today. You may see what looks like white furrows on the main streets, which will be salt brine that has dried.
