City crews have been actively engaged in snow fighting efforts since Christmas Eve, with varying numbers of personnel working every day since then. Most days have had people operating snow plows and other equipment on rotating 12 hour shifts, both day and night.

From Christmas Eve through 10:00 AM this morning, City crews have spent more than 453 hours of time operating snow plows for a total snow plow distance of 5,500 miles. This includes 26 employees who each worked a twelve hour shift on Christmas day. Plowing operations are continuing at this time with all plows active, including various supplemental equipment such as loaders, blowers, graders, and plow-enhanced pickups.

Plowing operations were also conducted to facilitate various special events that occurred over the holidays, including open skating at the Ice Arena, open swim at the Aquatic Center, and the Resolution Run for the Windy City Striders.

Snow plow operations always emphasize keeping the travel lanes of arterial and collector streets open before attention is given to local and residential streets. City staff requests that the public remain patient about the clearance of these side streets. Streets crews will be clearing the impassable side streets once the collector and arterial streets have been taken care of, but given the constant snowfall and the continuing winds, it may yet be a few days before all of the side street issues can be addressed.

Citizens are welcome to call in to report impassable side streets at the main Streets Division phone number, 235-8281.

 

More From 107.9 Jack FM