Confidence remains high that accumulating snow, bitter cold temperatures and strong winds will cause major impacts to holiday travel Thursday through Friday. That’s according to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, which is tracking a significant winter storm system for Thursday into Friday. Accumulating snow and strong winds could cause travel impacts all across the area, especially Thursday night.
If and when the snow flies, the City of Galesburg is prepared to keep local streets clear of snow and ice.
According to City of Galesburg Director of Public Works Wayne Carl, Galesburg averages only about five to six snow storms each year that are in excess of 2 inches of snowfall.
Snowplows have yet to leave their garages this season, however city crews have been out to treat slick streets. Carl said the city will use a new liquid melting agent this year that extends the length of time salt will be effective and prevents the roadway from icing back over. It’s also less expensive than the current liquid melting agent the City has been using for the last 14 years.
Carl details the city’s snow removal plan in this Q&A with WGIL.
What to expect from public works this winter
Q: When will plows or salt trucks be used?
Carl: The City has a snow removal procedure that we follow. The City will begin salting roadways when they start getting slick. When the City receives 2 inches of snow all public works and Parks Division begin plowing snow. Our guidelines on our website.
Q: Will there be any new techniques or equipment used?
Carl: We will be utilizing a new liquid melting agent called Beet Heet. It is widely used across the US and extends the length of time the salt will be effective and prevents the roadway from icing back over. Also, this product is less expensive than the current liquid melting agent the City has been using for the last 14 years. Both the past liquid and the new proposed liquid are mixed with salt and the liquid coated salt will melt ice and snow at much lower temperatures than just salt alone.
Q: When is salt or an ice melt actually used?
Carl: Salt is used anytime the roadways start to get slick are anticipated to be slick in the near future. All the bridges are salted on a a regular basis to prevent frost and ice from forming on the bridges since that is where ice forms first due to the cold air passing on both the top and bottom of the pavement. Salt prices have increased significantly over the last few years. This year’s salt price is $95.12/ton. Last year’s price was $73.69/ton. The City typically uses between 2,500 and 3,000 tons of salt per winter season so this large price increase has a big impact on the City’s budget. The City purchases salt off of the State of Illinois Bid which is the lowest cost available and is the most reliable source of salt.
Q: How many plows do you have, and how many employees are used for snow issues?
Carl: 14 dump trucks, 14 pickup trucks with plows, 1 motor grader, and 3 wheel loaders. The City also utilizes 2 self propelled large snow blowers that load up the piled up snow in the downtown area, East Main Street and Fremont Street.Not all equipment is used at all times, it just depends on the snow that is received.All Street Division and Parks Division personnel are used as well as some personnel from the Recreation and Water Divisions as needed. Additional fleet services personnel are utilized to make repairs and keep the plows in operation.
To be efficient, the City utilizes a 7-man salt crew that goes out when the roads begin to get slick or are forecasted to be slick very soon unless salted. The 7-man crew covers main streets and intersection throughout the entire City and can complete all of their routes in about 4 hours. Residential streets are not salted except at intersections. If the City receives 2 inches of snow, all the employees are called in from the Divisions listed above comprising over 30 people and all operations are switched over to plowing and salting. The crews stay out until all roads are cleared.
Snow emergency kicks in with 2 inches
Q: Are there any changes to the snow emergency policy? Briefly, how does it work?
Carl: As mentioned above the roads are salted first and then if 2 inches of snow or more is received a Snow Emergency will be declared and cars are required to be moved off the streets so the plows can plow the streets safely and completely. The Snow Emergency stays in effect until all streets are cleared. The night after the storm, the snow that is piled up downtown is loaded into trucks and hauled out so it doesn’t clog up traffic on City streets. Parking lots are also plowed completely the night after the storm and the snow loaded and hauled off. During the snow storm, one pass will be made through the aisles in the parking lots to facilitate traffic movement in the lots but all resources are needed in order to clear the streets first, so parking lots are plowed completely the next day.
The City personnel work many long hours in order to make sure the streets are cleared and safe. Fortunately, Galesburg averages only about 5-6 snow storms each year that are in excess of 2 inches of snowfall but it is still a very large task to accomplish and the guys work a lot of hours during the winter time. Ice storms are also very labor intensive and require a large amount of salt to get down to bare pavements.
