Snow Removal
As winter arrives, the Borough public works crew is busy readying the equipment necessary to handle snow and ice removal from the Borough roadways. The following is a general snow and ice removal policy for the Borough, with suggestions for the residents to help make the job more efficient and effective. This is a general policy and each storm will dictate how it is implemented and what adjustments will be made.
The main priority of the Borough is to make the roads under its jurisdiction safe for the traveling public. The main priority of each truck is to open each street on the snow emergency routes first. At the start of each storm all trucks are loaded with salt and sent out to its assigned area with instructions to salt all main roads, hills and curve areas first, then salt all other areas. Salt needs the movement of traffic to make it most effective; so if it seems your street has not been salted it may just be that there has not been enough traffic on it yet. For the initial plowing sequence, the drivers are instructed to make one pass in each direction on the street.
Nazareth Borough has approximately 26 miles of roads. Our first objective is to make each road passable. After that has been achieved we will commence pushing the snow back. This may not be started until the following day because the employees will be sent home to rest after spending long hours working in the initial plowing effort.
Suggestions for the residents to help make the snow removal effort more effective and efficient are as follows:
Vehicle Parking
If at all possible, park off the roadway in your driveway. In the case of these homes with steep driveways, just park in the mouth of the driveway off the roadway.
Driveways
The Borough always receives complaints with regards to having recently shoveled driveway entrances plowed in. Some suggestions for the shoveling driveways are:
- Wait until all plowing operations have ceased before shoveling your driveway.
- When shoveling your driveway, leave at least 6' un-shoveled until plowing operations on your street are completed.
- When shoveling your driveway, shovel out into the street approximately 8 feet and 10 feet in both directions adjacent to your driveway along the curb line or edge of the roadway. The cleared area will allow the plow to unload most of the snow before it crosses the front of the driveway.
Above all, please be patient and allow the employees' time to do their job plowing the streets. If there is an immediate problem do not hesitate to call the Borough leaving your name, telephone number, and the nature of the problem. The public works department will respond as timely and efficiently as possible to correct the situation.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Keith Knecht
Public Works Superintendent
Borough of Nazareth
