Iowa City Today

City of Coralville recently issued the following announcement.

Get the guidelines for street plowing, sidewalk shoveling, and parking this winter

Coralville reminds residents of the rules and guidelines for winter snow removal and parking. Additional information about snow removal, including a snow plow priority map, is at www.coralville.org/snow.

Shovel Your Sidewalks & Curb Ramps

Clear Snow Within 24 Hours

Property owners are required to remove snow and ice from their public sidewalks, including curb ramps (where the sidewalk meets the street), within 24 hours after it stops snowing. Clear the entire width of the pavement.

If you have a curb ramp on your property, keep it free of snow and ice, and make sure it is not blocked by a pile of snow. Crosswalks are difficult to cross by foot, wheelchair, or stroller when blocked by a pile of snow. 

Report an Issue

The City inspects unshoveled sidewalks and curb ramps on a complaint basis. To report an uncleared sidewalk or curb ramp, report it online or call 319.248.1740 and provide the address of the property. Inspections are generally made within two business days as weather and staff resources allow, prioritizing hazardous issues.

Snowblowers

Never push or blow snow into the street. Do not use motor-powered, muffler-equipped snow removal equipment (such as a gas snow blower) between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am; it’s not permitted under the City’s noise control ordinance (Code of Ordinances, 48.05, “Noise Control: Excluded Sounds”). City-owned or City-hired snow removal is allowed during these hours. 

Streets

Which Streets Are Plowed First

See a snow plow priority map at www.coralville.org/snow. Crews cannot accommodate individual requests to change the priority of street plowing. The Streets Department plows and treats public streets in the following order (exceptions may be made for emergencies):

Arterial streets

Transit routes

School area streets (a three-block radius around public schools, if in session)

Remaining residential streets

Cul-de-sacs

The State is responsible for snow removal on Highway 6, and Coral Ridge Avenue from Commerce Drive to Highway 6. There are a few private streets for which the City is not responsible for snow removal. 

When Plowing Begins

Plowing begins when snowfall reached two to three inches as measured by the Streets Department. Salt and / or sand is spread when the City determines the streets are in a hazardous condition, with an emphasis on hills, curves, and main intersections. The City re-plows or re-spreads based on the available weather information and street conditions. Crews may use anti-icing agents to pre-treat major streets, bus routes, and big hills before a winter storm, based on road and weather conditions. 

For questions or concerns about plowing your street, report it online or call 319.248.1740 and provide the address of the property. 

Typical Snowfall

During a typical snowfall, streets are cleared within 24 hours after the snowfall ends and are plowed within 24 inches of the curb, unless restricted by parked vehicles. 

Extreme Snowfall

For major winter storms, after snowfall stops and the arterial streets, transit routes, and school area streets are cleared, crews clean residential streets and cul-de-sacs in two steps:

Plow trucks and end loaders work in one zone of the City at a time to make an initial pass. The crews work together to efficiently complete one zone before moving onto another.

After all zones are cleared, crews push snow back from curbs and haul snow from intersections as needed.

The zone where crews begin is determined by the time of day; some factors, such as tree coverage and available light, are leveraged to maximize efficiency. 

Parked Vehicles

Parking between 2:00 am and 6:00 am on City streets in Coralville is not permitted. If a street is not passable by the plow because of a parked vehicle, the street may not be plowed.

Mailboxes & Driveways

As the plow moves down the street, the snow rolls off the edge of the blade, discharging snow into driveways and around mailboxes. This cannot be prevented. There will always be snow at the bottom of driveways after the street is plowed. For tips to deal with this, visit www.coralville.org/snow. Check mailboxes before winter to make sure they are stable and behind the curb. 

Fire Hydrants

There are approximately 1,500 fire hydrants in Coralville. You can clear snow from nearby fire hydrants so firefighters can see and access them. Clear a 3'x3' area around the hydrant, with a 3' wide path from the street to the hydrant. Coralville also has an adopt-a-hydrant program; learn more at www.coralville.org/adoptahydrant.

Learn more

We appreciate your patience and awareness of safety while driving during snow and ice removal. For more information, call 319.248.1740 or visit www.coralville.org/snow.

Original source can be found here.