Snow & Ice Control | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

1. Ice Control Routes | first priority

The City is divided into 13 Ice Control Routes which represent major thoroughfares essential to emergency transportation.

Goal: Keep major roads, hills, and bridges open during snowfall, ultimately achieving bare pavement at the end of the event.
101 miles of major thoroughfares and hills
Snowplow that dispenses salt and brine, assigned to each route
Deicing and plowing commence when streets become slippery and is a continuous operation throughout a winter weather incident.
Plowing of these routes to full street width is undertaken after the snow has ended.

Comprehensive Ice Route Map

If you have any questions or concerns, please email communityservices or call 715-839-4963.

2. Secondary Streets | second priority

Secondary Streets are completed after every ice control operation unless a full residential plow operation is initiated. If a full residential plow operation is initiated, the secondary streets will be plowed in conjunction with all residential streets. Secondary streets provide access to schools, churches, businesses, and commercial areas that attract higher volumes of traffic.

Goal: Keep streets open for travel; compacted snow an acceptable driving surface.
76 miles of streets that provide access to commercial/business areas with higher traffic volumes and access to schools, churches, and bus routes,
Plowing and sanding of secondary routes occurs for snowfalls accumulating more than 1 inch.

COMPREHENSIVE SECONDARY STREETS MAP

If you have any questions or concerns, please email communityservices or call 715-839-4963.

3. Residential Areas | third priority

The City is divided into 27 residential areas.

Goal: Plowing operation to be completed 8-12 hours after snow has stopped falling, and Ice Routes are in passable condition, depending on type and depth of snow. Sand is applied for traction to hills, intersections, and curves after all plowing has been completed. Expect compacted snow driving surfaces, not bare pavement.
255 miles of residential streets.
Snowplows, loaders, pickups, and motor grader are assigned to various areas.
Snowplow or motor grader are assigned to each area.
Starting points for plowing areas alternate throughout the winter.
A full residential plowing operation is initiated after 3 inches or more accumulation.
- If we have received several smaller snowfalls over a period of days, a residential plow may be initiated.
- If we receive less than three inches, sand is still applied at hills, intersections, and curves to act as an abrasive and assist in braking.
If a storm delivers over 12 inches of snow, a full plow operation will take longer than the average 8-12 hours.

COMPREHENSIVE RESIDENTIAL AREAS

If you have any questions or concerns, please email communityservices or call 715-839-4963.

Anti-Icing and Use of Salt Brine

Anti-Icing and Use of Salt Brine

The City of Eau Claire limits the amount of salt that is applied to the streets in an effort to protect the groundwater, lakes, rivers, and streams, and other infrastructure. Only the Ice Control Routes are salted. Secondary and Residential Routes (all other streets) receive sand to act as an abrasive on hills, intersections, and curves.

We will again be including salt brine as part of our snow and ice control program. Salt brine is an environmentally safe liquid solution consisting of water and dissolved salt.

Salt brine is applied to pavement prior to receiving precipitation to prevent snow/ice from freezing and bonding to the pavement.
A salt brine solution is also added to rock salt during ice control operations on primary ice control routes to speed melting and achieve our goal of bare pavement.
Salt and salt brine also become significantly less effective when temperatures drop below 15 degrees. Streets can be expected to have some snow packed roads on Ice Control Routes when temperatures drop below this this threshold. Once temperatures warm up, crews will work to achieve the bare pavement goal.

Using salt brine as an anti-icing and pre-wetting agent has been found to be a cost-effective way to treat city streets, provide a safer driving surface, and reduce the amount of rock salt needed to melt ice and snow. Salt brine may reduce city rock salt use by as much 20 percent each year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email communityservices or call 715-839-4963.

Other City Plowing Responsibilities

Alleys

The City plows 14 alleys that serve as front door access to homes and is the primary method used for mail delivery. The remaining 255 blocks of alleys are the responsibility of the adjoining property owners.

Parking Lots

City-owned lots typically are cleared at night after a full plow operation has been completed.

Sidewalks

Sidewalks adjacent to City-owned property are cleaned by City crews the day following completion of a plowing operation, except Sundays. Remaining sidewalks are the responsibility of adjoining property owners and should be cleared of snow and ice within 24 hours after a snowfall (Section 13.20 of City Code of Ordinances).

Trails

The Parks Division plows, salts, and maintains the miles of multi-use trails/paths throughout the city.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email communityservices or call 715-839-4963.

Resident Resources | mailbox damage, sand, snow removal

Mailbox Damage
Has your mailbox been damaged by a snowplow? If a properly installed mailbox has been damaged by a snowplow, a claim form with instructions will be provided to you by the Streets Division. Upon verification of the claim, the reasonable cost of replacement will be reimbursed. For further information, you may email Community Services or call either the Street Division at (715) 839-4963 or Risk Management at (715) 839-4908.
Sand For Sidewalks

Sand for slippery sidewalks can be picked up free of charge at the Central Maintenance Facility, 911 Forest Street. The sand is kept outside of the gated area and can be picked up anytime at your convenience. Bring your own container and a shovel. Each residence is limited to a 5-gallon pail.

Blocked Driveway

Is your driveway blocked with snow from the plow? This is an unfortunate side effect of plowing all streets in the City. Snow is plowed as near to the curbs as is possible, and as a result, driveways can become blocked with wet, heavy snow. It is the property owner’s responsibility to clear snow from the end of the driveway. It is a violation of the city code to blow or push snow back into the street.

Snow Removal Help

Do you need help with snow removal from your sidewalks or driveway? Work with local lawn/snow removal companies to keep your sidewalks and/or driveways cleared. The Eau Claire County Aging & Disability Resource Center can help identify community resources and agencies for hire. Their online Resource Library is a great place to start, or email ADRC@eauclairecounty.gov or call 715-839-4735 for a personalized conversation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Community Services or call 715-839-4963.

Fire Hydrants, Mailboxes, and Sidewalks

Fire Hydrants

The City asks property owners to “Adopt a Hydrant” near their property to assist in making fire hydrants accessible during the winter months. The City has over 3,500 hydrants in the water system and the assistance from property owners helps assure quick response by the fire fighters.

Mailboxes

It is the responsibility of the homeowner to clear snow away from mailboxes so that they are accessible to the mail carrier.

Sidewalks

Sidewalks must be kept reasonably free of snow and ice.
They must be cleared within 24 hours following a snowfall or the development of icy conditions.
Icy or snow-covered sidewalks can be reported to the Street Division by email at Community Services or by calling 715-839-4963.
- Residents at the addresses reported will be notified by door hanger of the violation.
  - If the sidewalks are not cleared, the owner will be issued a citation and a private vendor contracted by the City, will clean the sidewalk and the property owner will be billed.
  - Note: Only one door hanger notification per property will be given for the season.

See the 'Resident Resources' tab on this web page for information on sand availability and snow removal help.

See City Ordinance Chapter 13.20 for further details.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email communityservices or call 715-839-4963.

Maintaining safe driving conditions during the winter months is a priority for the Streets Division of our Community Services Department.