Snow Plowing
The Township of Eastampton has approximately 40 curb miles of roads to plow, 40 cul-de-sacs and circles, along with public facilities including the schools, rescue squad, fire department, police, and municipal building. The snow plan divides the community into five plow routes . The Township has five vehicles for plowing, three of which are equipped with salt spreaders. Each route includes approximately 20 streets. The larger trucks are assigned the busier thru streets. The cul-de-sacs, which require greater maneuverability, are maintained by the smaller vehicles.
The goal of the Township's snow removal plan is to have all of the streets cleared, as close to curb as possible, eight hours after the stop of a 4-6 inch snowfall. High winds may delay this goal as the equipment is diverted back to busier roads. Icing, mechanical problems, snowfalls of long duration, and other public emergencies may also interfere with this goal. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the Public Works Department's snow removal efforts.
When Are Streets Plowed?
Plowing generally begins when snow accumulation reaches three inches, but the Public Works department may begin sooner . If there is a light snowfall and the afternoon sun is melting the fallen snow, it will be left to Mother Nature to remove the snow.
Why is Snow Piled on my Corner?
Snow that accumulates across the side road at the street corner needs to be pushed back onto the corner. This is done to properly clear the street radius and allow cars to turn. The snowplow driver typically pushes snow back onto the corner in the direction the truck is traveling. This is why a particular corner may get more snow on it than another. It is not practical to require that the large snowplow truck attempt to maneuver around the intersection to equally distribute snow on opposite corners. This is difficult to accomplish and is also time-consuming during significant snowstorms.
Snow piled at the street corner is of particular concern where there may be school bus stops. If there is an accumulation of snow at the corner of a bus stop, children may have to move up the street in order to board the school bus. Please instruct children not to climb on the piles that have accumulated at the corners. If a snow pile on a particular corner becomes a sight distance problem , please call the Public Works Department and the snow can be removed as time permits (609-267-5723, ext. 210).
When are Sidewalks to be Cleared?
The Township Code (§ 42-1. Removal of ice and snow required) requires the following:
The owners or tenants of lands abutting or bordering upon any sidewalks in the Township of Eastampton are hereby required to remove all snow and ice from the travel portion of said sidewalks, or in the case of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impracticable, cause same to be thoroughly covered with sand or ashes within 24 hours* after the snowfall or formation thereof. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove snow or ice from any private property and place the same onto the sidewalk or roadway of any street.
*Exception: In the event of a State or Federally declared emergency, the 24-hour clock will commence once the emergency is lifted.
Why is my Street Always the Last one to be Plowed?
There are many miles of streets and many cul-de-sacs within the Township. Typically, the large snowplow will concentrate on the major streets within each particular subdivision. Once the main streets have been plowed, the large truck will move to the secondary streets within each subdivision. Public Works keeps route layouts logical and efficient to save fuel and salt.
Typically, circles with center islands take approximately 20 minutes to be cleared. Cul-de-sacs that do not have islands in the center are the most time consuming, usually taking approximately 30 minutes to plow. Another factor that affects the plow's arrival in your specific area has to do with equipment failures or breakdowns. If a truck is out of service for any period of time, it adversely affects snow removal within your area.
Public Works makes every effort to reduce the potential for breakdowns; however, breakdowns still occur. It should take each truck approximately four to five hours to pass through their entire route once. If the snow is a heavy and sustained storm, the truck may have to make many passes in an effort to keep roads passable.
Why is Snow Always Left at the End of my Driveway?
Although crews do not place snow in driveways on purpose, there is no practical way for the snowplow operator to cut off the window of snow when crossing a driveway. This problem is especially acute in cul-de-sacs because this is a very confined space. Cul-de-sacs require that all of the snow that is on the roadway within that confined space be placed along the outside of the circle. The problem is compounded by the fact that each homeowner then must clear their driveway, which places large piles on the corners of the drives.
One thing you can do to reduce the amount of snow that is plowed in front of your driveway is to place as much of the snow as possible to the right side of your drive, as you face the street. This reduces the chance of snow previously removed from the driveway being pushed back onto your drive. This suggestion, however, may not work in cul-de-sacs that have driveway openings placed close together.
Why Can't Plows Push Snow to Side of Road Without Mailboxes or Toward Center Islands?
Every effort will be made to take unique street circumstances into account. However, it is extremely difficult and time consuming to push at a reverse angle, particularly around turns, circles, and cul-de-sacs. Trucks are not built to be articulated into an angle that would allow this type of plowing, and centrifugal force causes the snow to move off of the plow toward the outside of the turn. Public Work's goal in clearing all streets is to maintain as much of the normal pavement width as possible, while at the same time, allowing acceptable access to the mailboxes by the postal carriers.
What to do When Hazards (I.E. Excessive Ice, Plowed in Bus Stops) are Identified After Plowing Operation Have Ended?
Call the Eastampton Public Works Department at 609- 267-5723, ext. 210. If this occurs after 3:30 P.M. or on weekends, you should call the non-emergency number at the Eastampton Police Department at 609-267-8300. Please do not leave messages at the municipal building. These messages may create duplication of effort, or go unanswered for a period depending on conditions. For example, if it snows on a Friday evening the message may not be received until Monday, at which point the hazard may have already been resolved through either follow-up plowing or a police initiative.
Is it the Residents' Responsibility to Dig Out Fire Hydrant?
The Burlington County Public Safety Department officials are asking residents who live near fire hydrants to dig out the snow from around the hydrants to allow firemen and emergency personnel access when responding to fires. Snow hinders response to fires and having access to the nearest hydrant can dramatically help firemen.
What can I Do to Help?
One major problem that works against snow removal operations is people shoveling or blowing snow back onto the street after it has been plowed and salted. Township ordinance prohibits placing snow back onto the roadway once it has been plowed. Snow that has been deposited onto the street could refreeze and cause a hazardous condition for you or your neighbors. Please place the snow that you shovel off of your driveway and sidewalk onto the adjacent parkway and not back onto the street.
When it starts to snow, park your vehicle off of the street. This protects the car from being splashed with slush and salt and prevents the car from being plowed in. Check that your mailbox and post are in good repair and that they are behind the curb, not leaning out over the street. If there is a fire hydrant in front of your home, please try to clear the snow around the hydrant. It is there for your protection and that of your neighbors. Please remove portable basketball hoops from the street right of way. If they are left in an area where they can be damaged by our snow removal operations, we will not be responsible for any damages.
Please be patient. This is particularly important during blizzards and extended storms when the Township has to stagger crew hours and/or assist the Police Department, Fire Department, or Rescue Squad with snow-related accidents and emergencies.
