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Snow Removal

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1. What happens when it starts to snow?

The City of Suffolk subscribes to an advanced weather forecasting service. When a storm alert is issued, we apply a salt brine solution to our main roadways. Once the storm warning is issued, depending upon the timing and nature of the pending storm, crews are brought in and put on stand-by. Once the storm starts, salt trucks are sent out on designated salt routes to apply salt as necessary. Main routes are completed first, then secondary and then the local roadways.

2. How is a Snow Emergency declared?

The City Manager, in conjunction with the Director of Public Works, Police Chief, additional Public Safety and other department heads, determine that conditions exist that would warrant a Snow Emergency and reports same to the Mayor. The Snow Emergency shall go into effect four (4) hours after declaration. (City Codified Ordinances, Part 5, Title 3-Traffic Regulations, Article 527.02)

Please note that the City and surrounding municipalities do not always declare snow emergencies at the same time. Check with your local news media or on the city’s website (www.suffolkva.us) to see if the City of Suffolk has called a Snow Emergency.

3. When will treatment of streets and roadways begin?

This will be determined by the Department of Public Works according to the latest local weather forecast. Depending on the severity of the storm, treatment may start in the hours or days prior to the incident. Clearing is done on a priority basis, with interstates and high volume roads cleared first.

4. What is used to pre-treat the roads?

Pretreatment may be a wet salt solution (brine) or a dry mixture of sand and salt (abrasive). Salt can be corrosive to your vehicle. It is recommended to wash your car, including the undercarriage following the cold weather periods to reduce the amount of salt accumulation and possibility for corrosion.

5. Who do I call to get my street plowed?

Please contact the Public Works Roadway Division at 757-514-7600. Staff will be working 12 hour shifts covering and monitoring the storm.

Public Works Roadway Division

6. Why does the plow not remove all of the snow from my road?

The plows are designed to ride on "guides" (shoes) that raise the blade approximately 1/2 inch from the surface of the roadway. This is done to prevent damage to both the vehicle and infrastructure from raised manholes, catch basins or water valves. When plowing, our goal is to make residential streets passable; not to clear them to the bare pavement. Once the street has been plowed and salted, the interaction of the salt and vehicular traffic is required to melt the remaining snow cover. Streets with low traffic volumes will therefore remain snow covered longer.

7. How do you decide what streets are on these main plow/salt routes?

The main plow/salt routes are comprised of arterial roads
and collector roads, as defined by traffic volumes, fire/hospital emergency
routes and Suffolk Transit bus routes.

8. What if I live in a townhouse or condominium complex?

Streets located in these developments are private property (private streets have yellow street signs) and are the responsibility of the homeowner/ condominium association (per Section 74-41 of the Suffolk Municipal Code). Please contact your association or property manager for further information.

9. Who is responsible for clearing snow from the sidewalks in my neighborhood?

Under City Codified Ordinance Sec. 74-41: Whenever snow shall fall and lie on the street of the City, it shall be the duty of each owner or occupant to clean the snow from the sidewalk and gutter in front of the place owned or occupied by him within six hours after the snow shall have ceased to fall unless the same is at night and, if at night, then within six hours after sunrise the next day.

Clear sidewalks are essential for many citizens especially those with disabilities, people who enjoy walking as form of exercise and children who walk to and from school. Snow covered sidewalks increase the likelihood of slip and fall accidents.

10. Can I park my car on the street during a snow storm?

In order for snow plows to effectively clear the snow off the streets to ensure safety for motorists, all vehicles should be parked off-street.

11. Who do I contact in cases of Snow Plow Damage?

All of our snow plow drivers attend many hours of training in order to be certified to safely operate a snow plow. However, accidents do occasionally occur. In this instance, please contact the Risk Management Department at 757-514-4028. Please note that there are also private contractors and citizens who drive around with plows on their vehicles. All City vehicles are clearly marked with the City’s emblem along with that vehicles’ department and vehicle number.

12. Why do I not see a plow/salt truck on my street when it snows?

The City of Suffolk has over 1,620 lane miles of primary,
secondary and local roadways. The City’s main plow/salt routes are maintained
by upwards of 20 vehicles working around the clock.

During and immediately following the snow event, crews are
working to keep vital primary routes open for emergency traffic. After the
primary routes are sufficiently treated, crews will expand their work to
secondary and then to tertiary routes. As snow melts and traffic increases,
this often requires going back to maintain areas previously cleared. All of
this work, over such a large area, requires a significant amount of time.

Residential streets are usually not treated, as the time
that it takes to get the primary, secondary and tertiary routes completed this allows
for melting in the residential areas to take place. Additionally, neighborhood
streets are narrow and often have cars parked in the street making it difficult
to clear snow and increasing the chance of an accident with the plow.

13. I only have on-street parking. Why do you always plow snow against my car?

The City must remove the snow from the traveled portion of
the road. On two-way streets where there is only parking on one side, the plow
operator cannot push the snow away from the parked cars into the oncoming
traffic, as it would create a hazard and liability. Snow is always pushed away
from the oncoming traffic. When heavy snowfalls are predicted, residents are
asked where possible not to park on the roads. This is done to reduce the
chance of plowing in parked vehicles, eliminating the chance of damaging
vehicles and allowing for a more efficient plowing operation.

14. I once saw a snow plow parked in a restaurant parking lot during a bad snow storm. Why was it there instead of on the streets working?

The
City of Suffolk’s plow operators take pride in clearing the streets on their
routes as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Common sense and good safety
practices dictate that each driver should take a 15-minute break every three
hours; drivers also receive a 30-minute lunch break during their 12-hour shift.
It is dangerous, both for the snowplow driver and the public, if a fatigued
driver is behind the wheel of a snowplow. It is in the best interest of all
concerned for the drivers to take occasional breaks.

15. I have a medical condition. Can you plow my street in case there is an emergency and an ambulance needs to get through?

The
POTENTIAL for a medical emergency does not warrant priority treatment. Anyone
needing an ambulance in a medical emergency should contact 911 where all necessary steps will be coordinated. Equipment will
be diverted for emergencies ONLY WHEN
REQUESTED BY AN EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCY OR THE SUFFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT.  Utilize 911
only in life threatening emergencies or for emergency Fire and Rescue services.
If you need help, but it’s not an emergency, please contact the Police
Non-Emergency Number at 757-923-2350 option: 0.

16. Why do the plows always push snow into my driveway?

For a resident this can be quite annoying, but unfortunately
it cannot be helped. The snow must, at minimum, be removed from the traveled
portion of the road but our plow drivers are requested to plow curb to curb
where possible. When the City receives a heavy snowfall, if possible, do not
shovel your driveway until after the plow has gone by. If you must shovel do
not throw the snow out onto the roadway as you may create a hazard for another
vehicle, and if an accident were to occur you might be held liable.

17. How much does the City spend on winter control annually?

The Public Works Department spends anywhere from $500,000 to
$750,000 per year.  In 2017 we
experienced only 1 storm and the Roadway Division spent $579,932.00. We used
over 4,782 tons of de-icing materials and applied 19,000 gallons of liquid
anti-icing materials.