Snow Removal

The Township’s Snow Management Plan guides the effort to keep roads open and safe for travel during winter storms.

The Public Works Department receives reports from professional weather services that help it prepare for storms. When snow or ice is predicted, the Township notifies staff, readies plowing equipment and loads salt and anti-icing material. Standby crews are also maintained to help after hours and on weekends and holidays.

As a storm approaches, crews begin applying liquid anti-icers and salt to primary roadways. Then they salt hills, intersections and trouble spots on all dedicated Township roads. Plowing begins when it is determined that 3 inches of snow has accumulated on the roads. Plowing is ineffective and inefficient for lesser snowfalls.

Snow Emergency

Whenever there is an actual or anticipated accumulation of snow, ice and/ or freezing rain upon roadways in the Township, causing such streets to become dangerous and hazardous to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, a snow emergency shall be declared by the Township Manager or his/her designee. Whenever a snow emergency exists, all on-street parking shall be prohibited on roadways where off-street parking is available.

Any time a snow emergency shall be deemed to be in effect by virtue of the foregoing provisions, such emergency shall continue to exist until such time as the Township Manager or his/her designee shall declare that the snow emergency has been terminated.

When a snow emergency has been declared, it shall then be unlawful to park any vehicle on such streets within the Township until the snow has been completely plowed for the full width of the cartway, except on those streets within the Township where only on-street parking is available. Where only on-street parking is available, all motor vehicles shall be parked on the even ­address side of the street on even-numbered calendar days and on the odd-address side of the street on odd-numbered calendar days.

Plowing crews are linked with the Township via two-way radio to assist police, fire and emergency personnel.

Clearing Roads

The Township’s goal for snow removal is have all roads clear within:

  • 8 to 12 hours for a 3 to 6-inch snowfall
  • 12 to 16 hours for a 6 to 10-inch snowfall
  • 16 to 22 hours 10 to 16-inch snowfall

Public Works crews plow 215 streets consisting of 67 miles of township roads. The first priority is to clear all primary routes and Collector Streets. Crews then begin plowing residential streets and cul-de-sacs. Vehicles parked on primary routes will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Crews attempt to clear all streets to the curb-line during snow removal. This may not be possible for properties when branches hang over the street, providing less than the required 12-foot clearance, or when trash cans and vehicles obstruct plowing operations.

Questions & Reporting

Your cooperation during winter storms is greatly appreciated and helps Public Works crews clear roads quickly. If you have questions about snow removal, please call the Public Works Department at 610-277-2400.

To report an emergency during a storm, please call 911.

For more, read our winter storm safety tips.

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