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Snow & Ice Control

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1. Who performs the work?

The Service Division of the Public Works Department performs snow plowing and ice control. The Service Division receives assistance from other Public Works divisions for back-up drivers as needed. The Service Division is also assisted by private contractors to clear the turn-around area of cul-de-sacs, as well as public parking lots and sidewalks.

2. How many shifts do we operate during winter?

The Service Division operates two shifts per day from mid-December to mid-March. Having two shifts provides supervisors and drivers on site between 7 a.m. and midnight for snow and ice control. This is very important because it allows us to meet the ever-changing weather and roadway conditions. When second-shift crews are not actively fighting snow, they are maintaining vehicles and patching streets.

3. What happens when winter weather hits after hours and on weekends?

Service Division supervisors are notified by the Hudson Police Department that snow and ice control is needed. Supervisors then contact crew members to report for duty. It is not unusual for the Service Division snow and ice control crews to work overtime hours on weekends and holidays.

4. When and how do we monitor the weather?

From early October to April, city staff monitors roadway and weather conditions 24 hours a day, seven days per week and can respond to winter conditions at any time with a variety of equipment and personnel. Proper and timely response to winter weather conditions is paramount to the safety of the traveling public, the economic viability of the city, and neighborhood livability. The Service Division’s primary source of weather information comes from a commercial satellite weather system called Digital Transmission Network (DTN). This system displays up-to-date weather information and graphics similar to what is on the local television stations.

5. When do we plow?

The Service Division considers all winter precipitation events to be emergency in nature. Whether it’s a freezing drizzle situation or a 14-inch snowstorm, appropriate crews are dispatched in response to the conditions. The response may range from a few salt/chemical application trucks to cover freezing bridge decks, to a full mobilization of all snow removal equipment.