Snow Control

Yes, O’Fallon’s Snow and Ice Control Hotline is put into action when the forecast calls for five or more inches of snow and snow has begun to accumulate. At that time, you can call 636-379-3826 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for snow or ice control questions or concerns. Please note that the purpose of the City’s snow control program is to provide safe access, not 100% clear pavement. For questions at other times, please call the City’s Streets Division at 636-379-3807. 

For questions at other times, please call the City's Streets Division at 636-379-3807.

Unfortunately, there is no perfect solution to preventing snow from being plowed up to your mailbox and driveway, but you can minimize the possibility.

Make room for snow discharged by plows by clearing the snow from the end of your driveway and along your curb, especially the area to the left of your driveway, when facing the street from the front of your house.
                                       

The city has grown tremendously over the past 10 years. Approximately 700 lane miles of streets are maintained by the City of O'Fallon.

The goals of snow control operations are to have collector and arterial streets cleared for two-way traffic within 6 hours of the end of the storm and to have a clear path (the width of one car) on all residential streets within 12 hours of the end of a storm. The widening out of streets and clean-up phase will continue for 24-36 hours after the end of a storm.

In lighter snow events, the City often completes this process faster, but in heavy snow events, the process does take time.

During light snow events (0-4” of snow): Crews will focus on clearing a 20 foot path around the perimeter of the cul-de-sac with the blade of the plow angled toward the middle. This will allow easy access to driveways.

During heavier snow events (4” or more): With the substantial amount of snow that can build up in cul-de-sacs during heavy snowfalls, additional snow control efforts have been put into place. When heavy snow hits, plows initially will create a passable lane through the cul-de-sac so residents can drive in and out of the street. Then, as other snow removal efforts wind down, crews will return to the cul-de-sac to move snow into available green space. With this new policy in place, crews will be able to focus on clearing O’Fallon’s streets as quickly and efficiently as possible without inadvertently causing large snow windrows on cul-de-sacs, which inconvenience homeowners.

Due to the substantial amount of snow that can build up in cul-de-sacs during heavy snowfalls, these streets require additional snow control efforts. Crews begin by providing a single lane clear path into the cul-de-sac. Then, as other snow removal efforts wind down, crews will return to the cul-de-sac to move snow into available green space. With this new policy in place, crews will be able to focus on clearing O’Fallon’s streets as quickly and efficiently as possible without inadvertently causing large snow windrows (piles), which inconvenience homeowners.

The City has the daunting task of clearing nearly 700 lane miles of streets and 1,100 cul-de-sacs after a winter storm. Homeowners or businesses who push snow back into the street make this task even more difficult, increasing the time and cost of snow removal. Additionally, placing snow in a public street is against City ordinance and may result in a fine.

Call 9–1-1 only in life–threatening emergencies; the dispatcher will contact the O'Fallon Streets Division should an emergency vehicle need access to a snow or ice covered street. For more information, call the Streets Division at 636-379-3807.

A “clear path” is a cleared path through the snow approximately the width of one car which allows traffic to get in and out of streets. It does not mean that the street will be bare pavement and it does not mean the street will be cleared from curb to curb or that two full lanes of traffic can get through easily. It is a one-car pathway. Once the entire route is completed to the “clear path” standard, our snow fighters will return to begin widening that “clear path.”

Get parked cars off the streets and stay clear of snow plows! Parked cars along the streets provide dangerous obstacles for plows. In addition, they simply don’t allow snow fighters to do their jobs. If a car is parked on the street, that area does not get plowed effectively. It is both dangerous to drivers and inconsiderate to neighbors who are stuck dealing with snow piles left in their street.

You’re breaking the law. O’Fallon’s Municipal Code requires that parked cars be moved off the streets anytime there is an accumulation of snow, ice, or other frozen precipitation. In the past, the City asked for and received voluntary compliance to this law. However, during recent storms, this voluntary compliance has dropped, meaning snow fighters are at risk and neighbors are more inconvenienced.

Therefore, any car parked on a street during a snow event may be ticketed. And, if that car is preventing snow fighters from safely completing their routes, it may be towed. No warnings will be issued. When snow and ice hit, get parked cars off the street immediately and keep them off until the roads are cleared in both directions!

By City ordinance, no street parking is allowed during winter weather events. No service will be provided if the crews feel they cannot safely plow your street because of parked cars or other obstructions.

The City of O’Fallon is responsible for clearing most streets within O’Fallon City limits, but not all. To keep traffic moving, the City emphasizes first clearing major thoroughfares for which it is responsible, including Mexico, Feise and Bryan roads, and WingHaven Boulevard. When snow begins to accumulate, snow removal crews are dispatched to residential areas.

With so many lane miles and roads to clear, snow fighters simply cannot spend too much time on one street, especially during a storm or in the first 12 hours after the end of the storm. Remember, every minute a driver spends on your street is a minute he/she is not spending clearing an area on someone else’s street. O’Fallon snow operations team has established 14 routes to ensure that drivers can get to every street in the City as quickly as possible.

During the storm, crews will constantly cycle through their assigned routes to try and maintain at least one clear path (room for one car width) on the streets. After the storm, plows will first establish the clear path on all their assigned streets. Again, the goal for this part is to have a clear path on all residential streets within 12 hours of the conclusion of the storm.

Only after a “clear path” is established on all streets will drivers begin the process of widening this clear path to accommodate two-way traffic. From that point on, drivers will continue to repeat their routes and with each pass they will widen the path to get the pavement cleared close to the curbs on both sides of the street It may be necessary for the plows to come down your street many times until the job is done.

Once two lanes have been established on all subdivision streets, drivers will go into a clean-up phase where they will go around and improve areas that were not done well earlier. At this point they will also be cleaning up intersections and cul-de-sacs.

The City cannot plow privately-owned streets or lots. Residents and business owners are required to keep their own driveways, sidewalks, mailboxes and private streets clear of ice and snow.