SNOW REMOVAL

The City of Alexandria receives many calls regarding the condition of city streets. Please take into consideration that the Public Works Department does everything they can to get the streets as clean as possible for residents.

When snow is predicted our Public Works Supervisor decides if a pre-treatment is necessary.  If it is below a certain temperature, however, pre-treat or salt has no effect on the snow.  When there is rapid snow fall, it is sometimes better to wait until the snow diminishes in intensity, and then plow.  The main goal is to at least have a path for travel in and out of the street, then return to remove as much snow as possible.  Also, please remember that snow has to be put somewhere and they put it where they can at that time.

PLEASE BE PATIENT AND FOLLOW THESE SNOW TIPS:

• When snow is predicted, PARK YOUR CAR IN YOUR DRIVEWAY – keeping cars off the street will allow the snow plows to clear a bigger path.  That means they can pile snow in yards, not on your car.  The city WILL NOT come out to shovel out your car parked on the street. Keeping your car off the street is also safer for your car, and helps the City crew in avoiding accidents.

• When snow is plowed, some will usually end up in your driveway and yard…it’s either that, or the street doesn’t get plowed.  The snow has to go somewhere! The city WILL NOT shovel out your driveway, that is the responsibility of the homeowner.

• Mailboxes…again, the snow is pushed to the side of the street and may block your mailbox.  It is your responsibility to clear the snow around your mailbox so the post office will deliver your mail.
  

• Salt will not always be used because if the temperature is below 25 degrees, salt does not work and is thus wasteful. Same goes for the pretreatment of brine, if rain is forcasted prior to the snow event the rain will wash away the brine and therefore be a waste. 
• Streets WILL NOT be plowed curb to curb in an intense snow event, the goal is to have a clear path in and out of a street for emergency vehicles, one the snow tapers off, the crew will go back to clear more of the street. But again, if cars are parked on the street, the curb to curb clearing is resistricted.