Snow & Ice Control

Snow & Ice Control

Village of Woodlawn Public Works Department's main priority during the winter months is to provide a safe roadway system for motorists.

We ask for your patience as we work to open the streets back up after inclement weather. Accuracy of weather forecasts, the amount of snow/ice, how fast it falls, temperatures, equipment issues, parked cars, and volume of traffic all affect the Village's ability to clear the roads. Crews work very hard to clear the roads and make them safe. Village crews treat every route with the same priority and work to get them cleaned as quickly as possible.

WEATHER ALERTS

The village of Woodlawn generally follows the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Snow Emergency levels as announced by the Hamilton County Sherriff's Office:

  • Level I Snow Alert: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Residents are asked to move parked cars from the roadway to aid in snow removal.
  • Level II Snow Advisory: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roadways. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work.
  • Level III Snow Emergency: All Municipal, Township, County and State roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be out during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel. Those traveling on the roadways may subject themselves to arrest.
  • *No Parking on Snow Emergency Routes. Cars may be ticketed and towed.

TREATMENT METHODS

Village of Woodlawn uses three primary treatment methods:

  • Salt is used as a treatment on streets when temperatures are above 20 degrees Fahrenheit and the snow is less than 1" in accumulation.
  • Calcium chloride and salt mixture are used when temperatures are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit and the snow is less than 1" in accumulation.
  • Plowing and salting are used for accumulations greater than 1" of snow.  Unfortunately, plowing leaves a ridge or windrow along the edge of the street during plowing operations.  During plowing operations, all streets are made passable first, then they are plowed back to the curbs, followed by the final cleanup of intersections and cul-de-sacs due to their complexity.
SNOW TIPS FOR RESIDENTS

Short of climbing behind the wheel of a plow, there are plenty residents can do to assist snowplow operators in their efforts to safely and efficiently clear the roadways:

  • Park vehicles off the street. Remove items, such as basketball hoops, from the right of way. Driving a plow is challenging enough. Imagine having to steer around parked cars on a slippery street. 
  • Do not deposit snow into the street when using a snowblower or shoveling a driveway.
  • Never allow children to play in snow piles along the roadway. A plow operator may not see them when approaching in less-than-optimal weather conditions, or if the children have burrowed into the pile.
  • If possible, wait until the plow has passed before shoveling the area of a driveway near the street. Plow operators are simply doing their job by clearing the street and will make multiple passes to clear the roads nearest to the curb.  The snow must be pushed to the side of the road, which also, unfortunately, includes driveway entrances.
  • Stack snow on the left side of the driveway entrance (when facing the house) in order to minimize the amount of snow that may be pushed into the driveway entrance by a plow. Plows typically clear snow in the direction of normal traffic, so a large snow pile on the left side of a driveway will be pushed away from the drive entrance.
  • The village of Woodlawn will not take requests for streets to be plowed. Streets are prioritized based on traffic volume and terrain. Heaviest traveled streets get the first attention so that emergency vehicles can pass. Less traveled streets — like a cul-de-sac or a dead-end street — are plowed last.
  • Finally, crews are not superhuman. While they make every effort to clear the streets in an efficient and timely manner, they are limited by severe weather conditions. Please remain patient during major storm events.
SAFE DRIVING TIPS

Here are a few things to help keep you safe as you venture out.  Always check for Snow Emergency Levels placed in the area where you live and where you might be headed to ensure you can make it to your destination.
 
  • Delay non-essential travel until after the roads have been cleared.
  • Do not try to pass a snowplow or salt truck. If you cannot see the mirrors on the truck, the driver cannot see you!
  • Every truck has blind spots, so don’t assume the driver can see every area around the truck. Never pull up behind a salt truck.