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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	November, 2005	Return to newsletter index

Winter Operations

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By Public Works Staff

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.

PARKING BANS
The City of Saco may declare a parking ban. This is normally implemented during significant storm events. The purpose of the ban is to remove vehicles from the streets so the crews have unobstructed access to all areas for snow removal and ice control activities. Vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense when required.

The local media will announce parking bans. Look for information on the following: television channels 6, 8,13, and Fox 51; radio stations WMGX, WBLM, and WJBQ.

Additional information can be obtained by calling the parking ban information line at: 282-SNOW (7669).

You may also sign up to receive email notices of parking bans on the Department of Public Works home page.

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. 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.

MAILBOX GUIDELINES
Our plow drivers are warned to take all precautions to avoid striking mailboxes with the wing of the plow. Below are some tips for mailbox placement to help reduce the changes of damage during winter plowing:

• Place reflective material on the side of the box visible to approaching traffic, also, 4" high letters to identify the address is recommended to assist emergency vehicles.
• Mailbox post size must not exceed 4" by 4" for a wooden post or 2" diameter for a steel pipe post for roadside barrier safety. Posts that are more substantial in construction are considered "deadly fixed objects" and are not permitted within the Town Way.
• Mailboxes should be installed at least 42 inches high to provide clearance for the plow wing as shown in the picture on the right. We recommend the use of an extended arm type of post with a free-swinging suspended mailbox as shown on the picture to the right. This allows snowplows to sweep near or under boxes without damage to supports and provides easy access to the boxes by carrier and customers. To view a printable plan of this type mailbox in PDF format please click here.
• Below you will find a sketch showing the recommended location for your mailbox. Placing the mailbox on the side of your driveway away from approaching traffic will allow our driver to properly clear the roadway and to get as close as possible to your mailbox to minimize the amount of shovelling you will have to do to clear the mailbox for the postal carrier.
  
  
• For uncurbed roadways set the mailbox back at the far edge of the road shoulder to provide the maximum possible roadway clearance. For curbed roads the face of the mailbox should be 8-12 inches back from the curb face.
  Your participation and cooperation in complying with the above will be greatly appreciated by your rural carrier, postal service and Saco Public Works Department.

In the event your mailbox is damaged by the city plow we ask you to make any needed temporary repairs. If you are unable to make such repairs on your own please call Public Works at 284-6641 and we will attempt to repair or replace the mailbox as we deem appropriate and when time permits. Substantially damaged property will be replaced in the Spring with a basic metal mailbox. Newspaper boxes will not be repaired or reset by the city in any event.

The city will not replace or reimburse for custom made mailboxes, ornate posts or granite posts, etc., or existing mailboxes with rotted posts or in obvious poor existing condition. State of Maine law views mailboxes as an encroachment in the public way put their at the Owner's risk and municipalities are not legally liable for any damage or repairs to mailboxes due to plowing operations.