Snow Rules To Know in Summit

SUMMIT, NJ — With the impending snow expected to bring 6 to 10 inches to the area beginning Wednesday night and through Thursday, here are some guidelines to keep in mind for Summit.

What can you do?

• Keep cars in your driveway for as long as possible
• Stay off the roads for all but the most essential trips
• Adopt a Hydrant – Shovel a two foot clear area around the fire hydrant near your home or business
• Help your neighbors who are unable to shovel their own walks
• Clear snow from storm basin inlets

Ordinance rules

• All snow must not be pushed into the roadway. When clearing snow it must be confined to your property behind the curbline.
• Snow pushed into the street narrows the road, creates hazardous driving conditions and becomes difficult for our plow operators to plow to the curbs.
• Clear snow from sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of the snowfall.
• Treat icy sidewalks with sand for traction and calcium or magnesium chloride for melting (salt damages concrete).
• Avoid problems – tell your contractor to comply with City ordinance and rules.

How the City Plows

• Public Works has two emergency shifts, each responsible for 12 hours.
• Summit is divided into six plowing districts, with two plowsassigned to each. Trucks plow together, one behind the other, clearing the road from center to curb.
• Emergency services tracks predicted storms and Public Works crews are scheduled accordingly.
• When the snow shift arrives, deicing material is spread on the roads to help melt the snow or ice while improving traction.
• If snow accumulates 2 to 3 inches and is forecast to continue, the trucks begin to plow their districts.
• As routes are completed, the trucks return to the first streets and plow again, continuing through the storm. Any clean-up of the downtown waits until after the storm is over.

Snow Removal Priorities

• The main arterials
• All emergency facilities including the Hospital, the First AidSquad, Fire, Police
• Mass Transit routes and walkways
• Secondary Roadways and Public Facilities and Properties including public parking

Once the storm is over and all roadways have been plowed curb to curb, post storm clean up is completed.

• School Crossing Guard Posts
• Cross Walks in the Central Retail Business District
• Opening meters in public parking facilities

In excessive storms additional snow removal may be required to allow safe passage of emergency vehicles, passenger and commercial vehicles and pedestrians.

Snow is also removed from the Central Retail Business District when warranted.

• Garbage is picked up in most snow events on a normalschedule starting at 6 a.m.
• A clear, safe path must be available for the DPW workersto access the garbage.
• In the event a clear, safe path is not provided residents may dispose of their trash at the Summit transfer station on New Providence Ave.
• Any significant snow storms, typically 12 inches or more, the garbage pick up will be delayed until approximately 8:30 a.m. to provide the homeowner adequate time to shovel a clear path.

Click www.cityofsummit.org for the most current information.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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