The snow and ice control program in the City of Eau Claire is a vital public service.  The program is designed to keep the urban area functioning under the most adverse of weather conditions.  Planning and preparation for winter storms is necessary – success is not accidental.  The task is difficult and execution of the best thought out plan needs to be flexible.  Variations in weather conditions, time, temperature, precipitation amounts and rates, wind conditions, topography, and traffic conditions make addressing winter weather events complex.  No two storms are alike, yet the tasks to be accomplished are similar.  Timing is critical and weather forecasting is a very important element of the program.

The Work Plan and Snow Plowing Procedures provide guidance on the type and level of response for various winter weather incidents.  The plan outlines the work to be accomplished on the different street classifications, special cases, plowing priority, use of chemicals and abrasives, and the expected pavement condition upon conclusion of the snow and ice control operation.  Streets in the City are divided into three (3) major classifications for ice control and snow plowing purposes.

Ice Control Routes (First Priority)
[Solid Line]

The City is divided into twelve (12) ice control routes with one salt spreader equipped plow truck assigned to each route.  The ice control routes include 86 miles of major arterial streets throughout the community and each truck is responsible to patrol, salt, and plow approximately 7.2 miles.  One truck [Route #1] is assigned solely to the salting and plowing of Hastings Way, from Clairemont Avenue to Hogarth Street.  Travel lanes are plowed as salt is applied to the street surface.  The goal is to keep the arterial street system, major hills, and bridges open during a snowfall and to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement.  Deicing and plowing commences on the ice control routes when streets become slippery and is a continuous operation with an objective to ultimately achieve a bare pavement.

Secondary Plow Routes (Second Priority)
[Diamond Line]

The City is divided into twenty-four (24) plow areas.  Each plow area has a listed set of streets within the plow area that are categorized as Secondary Streets, which are to be plowed first.  The 63 miles of secondary streets consist of minor arterial and collector streets that provide access to schools, churches, businesses, and commercial areas with higher volumes of traffic.  Plowing and sanding of secondary plow routes is undertaken for most snowfall incidents when more than ½ inch of snow has fallen.  The goal is to achieve a street open for travel – but not to achieve a bare pavement – compacted snow is considered an acceptable driving surface.

Residential Plow Routes (Third Priority)
[Colored areas]

The City is divided into twenty-four (24) residential plow areas.  Each residential plow area is assigned a plow truck or motor grader.  The residential plow operation also includes five (5) pick-up routes for dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs.  In addition, three (3) front-end loaders are assigned to clean cul-de-sacs at selected locations throughout the community.  The 195 miles of streets within the residential plow areas are local streets and each vehicle is responsible to plow approximately 8.2 miles of road.  Each residential plow area has two designated areas – coded as either the gray or yellow area.  The starting point of the residential plowing is alternated between the gray and yellow areas so that properties are not always the last to be plowed.  Residential plowing is not initiated until 3 inches or more of snow has accumulated.  A goal is to plow all residential streets within 10 to 12 hours after the snow has stopped falling.  The objective is NOT to achieve a bare pavement and compacted snow is the expected pavement condition upon completion of the residential plowing operation.  Sand is applied to act as an abrasive on hills, intersections, and curves in the residential neighborhoods.

Alleys (Fourth Priority)

City crews plow snow at 14 alley locations with the use of plow-mounted pickup trucks, where the alley provides the front door access and is the primary method used for mail delivery.  The remaining 255 blocks of alleys are the responsibility of the adjoining property owners for snow and ice control.

Parking Lots, Sidewalks, and Paths (Fifth Priority)

The parking lots owned and operated by the City are typically cleaned at night after a full plow operation has been completed.  Sidewalks adjacent to City-owned property are cleaned by City crews the day following completion of the plowing operation, except on Sundays.  Sidewalks are the responsibility of the adjoining property owner to maintain free and clear of ice in accordance with Section 13.20 of the City Code of Ordinances.  The twenty-five (25) miles of multi-use paths in the City are plowed, salted, and maintained by the Parks Division using smaller equipment.

Alternate Side Calendar Clean-up Plowing

Beginning at midnight following completion of a full residential plowing, the street crews undertake a clean-up plowing operation.  The clean-up plowing takes advantage of the alternate side parking regulations, in affect between midnight and 7:00 am, to plow one side of the street in residential areas.  The clean-up plowing is typically conducted on two consecutive nights so that both sides of the street are plowed.

Snow Hauling

Periodically throughout the winter, street maintenance crews haul snow from business areas in the Downtown, Water Street, bridges, arterial streets, and snow bank problem locations.  Snow is currently hauled to snow storage sites on First Street, Sky Park – south of Hamilton Avenue, or the County clay borrow site on South Highway 93.  The snow hauling operation typically occurs over several nights following completion of the full plow operation.  Heavy snowfalls, such as the 22 inches on December 11, 2010, requires snow hauling to continue for longer periods of time during regular work hours and as time permits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ice Control / Secondary Routes Map

Residential Plow Areas Map

Sidewalks