TITLE lV:
STREETS, ROADS, PUBLIC WAYS
CHAPTER 2
SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL ON SECONDARY ROADS
4-2-1 Purpose
4-2-2 Level of Service
4-2-3 Sequence of Service
4-2-4 Limitation of Service
4-2-5 Emergency Conditions
4-2-1 Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to
establish this County's policy and level of service in respect to clearance
of snow or ice and maintenance of its secondary road system during the winter
months, pursuant to the provisions of Section 309.67, Code of Iowa. This policy and level of service are to
be implemented within the amount of money budgeted for this service, and as
contained in this County's Secondary Road budget as submitted to and
approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation and adopted by the Board
of Supervisors.
4-2-2 Level
of Service. Clearance of snow
or ice and maintenance of the Secondary Road System during the winter
months is primarily for the benefit of the local residents of this
County. Each storm has individual
characteristics and must be dealt with accordingly. The portion of the roadway improved for
travel will have upon it snow and ice in a compacted condition. These conditions may be continuous, or
they may be more concentrated on hills, in valleys, curves, and/or
intersections. The County's
existing snow removal equipment will be utilized for this purpose. All clearance of snow and ice, sanding,
salting, and other maintenance respecting winter conditions shall be
accomplished within the amount of money budgeted for this service. The entire width of that portion of the
road improved for travel may not be cleared of snow, ice, compacted snow
and ice, or frost. Snow cleared
from that part of the roadway improved for travel shall be placed on or in
the adjacent shoulder, ditch, or right-of-way. Snow can be expected to accumulate adjacent to the traveled
portion to the extent that a motorist's sight distance to both the left and
right may be greatly reduced or impaired.
The snow removed from intersections will be piled in its corners in
piles of unequal height. The line
of sight, sight distance, or visibility of motorists approaching these
intersections may be greatly reduced or impaired. The County shall not be responsible for snow pushed or
otherwise placed on the roadway or shoulder by others. Motorists shall drive their vehicles during
these conditions with additional caution and watchfulness, especially in
respect to the surface of the roadway, and reduced or impaired visibility,
and are advised to reduce their speed at least 25 miles per hour below that
legally permitted or advised under normal conditions. In respect to roadways that have only
one lane open, further extreme watchfulness and caution should be exercised
by the motorist, and their speed should not exceed 10 miles per hour. During these conditions no additional
warning or regulatory signs will be placed that warn of impaired sight
distances, visibility at intersections, road blockages, one-lane
conditions, or that the road surface is slick or slippery, or what the
advised speed should be.
4-2-3 Sequence
of Service. In the
implementation of snow and ice removal and other maintenance of the
county's Secondary Road System during the winter months, the County
Engineer shall select the actual sequence of roads to be cleared as
provided for in this Section of this Chapter, and shall determine when
drifting, wind velocity, and additional snow or snowstorms require that the
snow removal equipment be removed from the roadway, or that additional
clearance of paved routes be accomplished prior to the clearance of gravel
and dirt roads. The County
Engineer's professional judgment shall prevail unless it is clearly
erroneous.
1.
Paved Routes
a.
The initial effort will be to get all
routes open to two- lane traffic as soon as possible. As roads are being plowed,
intersections, hills and curves may have placed on them, salt, sand, and
other abrasives.
b.
After two-lane travel is possible,
subsequent snow removal will be carried on during normal working hours.
c.
The truck mounted snow plows and
spreaders will not normally be in operation between the hours of 5:00 p.m.
and 5:00 a.m.. The trucks may be
called off the road if snow and/or blowing snow reduces visibility to
hazardous working conditions, in the professional judgment of the engineer
or his delegated representative.
d.
When required, due to drifting snow,
motor graders may be used to keep the paved roads open and the opening of
gravel roads may be delayed.
e.
It is not the policy of the county to
provide a "dry" pavement condition.
f.
After roads have been plowed as provided
in this section, the remaining portions may have placed on them, salt, sand
or other abrasives. The
intersections, hills and curves may be re-salted, re-sanded or have other
abrasives replaced on them between snowstorms.
g.
Salting, sanding or placing other
abrasives upon roads due to freezing precipitation may occur during the
hours of 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2.
Unpaved Roads
a.
The initial effort will be to get all
routes opened to one- lane traffic as soon as possible after a storm has
passed. After one-lane travel is possible,
subsequent snow removal will be carried on during normal working hours.
b.
Motor graders and/or truck plows will
not normally be in operation between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 5:00
a.m. Gravel roads may not be plowed
if the wind is causing continual drifting.
c.
Snow may not be removed from roads
designated at Level B.
d.
The placing of salt, sand or other
abrasives upon roads due to freezing precipitation will not normally be
performed.
3.
Private drives. The County will not clear snow from
private drives. Normal snow removal
operations may result in snow being deposited in private drives. Snow from private drives shall not be
placed on the roadway or shoulders.
The County may replace
or repair mailboxes destroyed or damaged during the snow or ice removal
operations.
There is no time limit
after a snowstorm in which any of the above sequence of clearance, on paved
or unpaved roads, shall take place.
4-2-4 Limitation
of Service. The policy and
level of service provided for in this Chapter shall not include the performance
of the following services:
1.
Sanding, salting, or placing of other
abrasives upon the roadway that are slick, slippery, and dangerous due to
the formation of frost.
2.
Placing of additional warning or regulatory
signs warning of impaired sight distances, visibility at intersections,
road blockages, one-lane conditions, or that the road surface is slick or
slippery, or what the advised speed should be.
4-2-5
Emergency
Conditions
1.
The sequence of service may be suspended
during "Emergency" conditions.
An "Emergency" condition shall be considered as one where
a loss of life is probable, where a serious injury has occurred, or where
extensive loss of property is imminent.
These conditions should be verified through a physician's or
sheriff's office. The County will
respond to all "Emergency" conditions, either during or after a
snowstorm.
2.
The provisions of the Ordinance shall be
further suspended in the event the Governor, by proclamation, implements
the State disaster plan, or the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, by
proclamation, implements the County disaster plan. If such occurs, the County personnel and
equipment shall be immediately subject to the direction of the Governor or
the Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors.
Published January 9, 1985
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