Snow Removal

Responsibilities

During snows storms the city crew operates as many as 5 snowplows, removing snow and salting roads around the clock if necessary. The Public Works department plows approximately 90 miles of road equating to 180 miles of plowing. Our goal is to keep the streets safe for travel through the winter months. In order to achieve this, the Public Works Department has prioritized a sequence in which the roads will be plowed and salted. View the Snow Removal Routes Map of the priority streets.

Road Priorities

State Road 73 and Redwood Road, the two main arterial streets in the City, are maintained by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT):

1st priority will be collector streets which make up a basic network for the higher volume traffic. In addition, streets serving schools, municipal buildings, and selected streets on steep grades are included.
2nd priorities are the main secondary routes through the subdivisions connecting to the collector streets.
3rd priority will be remaining city streets and unpaved roadway.

Please take note that during severe storms the Public Works department may only get to the priority streets as those roads must remain as clear as possible. Second and third priority will get cleared, however it may take a couple days after a large storm to get to them. It is also not the position of the City of Saratoga Springs to maintain a bare pavement policy on every street after a snowstorm given the many other duties of the Public Works Department.

For questions or concerns regarding the snow plow policy please contact the Public Works Department.

Residents Responsibilities

6 Reasons To Move Your Car Off The Street When It Snows

It's the law.
If enough cars are parked along a road they could prevent access to snowplows.
Cars parked along a road that can be accessed by a snowplow limit the clearing area of the snow plow as the driver maneuvers around parked vehicles.
Maneuvering around vehicles takes extra time which limits how quickly roads can be cleared.
Cars moved after a road has been cleared can leave large piles of snow in the road.
Snow left in the road can limit road access to vehicles including, public safety vehicles, garbage collection trucks and more.

Streets

Code 11.3.090. Snow Removal From Streets:

In order to facilitate the speedy and safe removal of snow from City streets, it is illegal for the owner or driver of any vehicle to park or cause or allow to be parked such vehicle upon a City street or right-of-way of a City street during or following a snowstorm and the City's snow removal equipment is being utilized to remove the snow.
Vehicles shall be defined to include, but not necessarily limited to automobiles, trucks, trailers, mobile homes, travel trailers, boats, motorcycles, buses, snowmobiles, and other objects used or capable of being used for transportation purposes whether for the transport of humans, animals or freight of any kind.
A violation of this section shall be punishable as an infraction, in addition to any other penalties which may be imposed, including impoundment, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Snow accumulated from plowing has no place to go but in the road right of way. Often snowplowing will push snow across driveways and mailboxes and may cause hardships on residents. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to clean private driveways and the area in front of the mailboxes; therefore, it is the resident’s responsibility to remove snow from these areas.

State law prohibits residents, business owners, and/or contractors from depositing snow onto public streets. Snow removed from driveways and sidewalks should be shoveled onto lawns or park strip areas and not onto public streets.

Sidewalks

City of Saratoga Springs property owners are responsible for keeping all sidewalks along their property free of snow and ice. City crews are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks at all public facilities.

Fire Hydrants

During winter months it is important to keep the area around fire hydrants free of snow; therefore, it is the home owners’ responsibility to clear snow from around fire hydrants in front of their house.

Mailboxes

During the winter months snow will accumulate along the roads and on park strips. Mail boxes improperly installed or with older posts may not stand up to the rigors of winter and if broken will be the responsibility of the home owner. The city will replace any mail boxes and/or posts physically struck by a snow plow during the plowing process that have been placed correctly.

Mailboxes should be positioned 41" to 45" from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry.
Place mailbox 6" to 8" back from the curb. If you do not have raised a curb, contact your local postmaster for guidance.
Put your house or apartment number on the mailbox
In your mailbox is on a different street from your house or apartment, put your full street address on the mailbox.

Pruning

Trees and bushes must be kept at a proper distance so as not to impede access to fire hydrants by emergency personnel or snow plows from being able to properly clear the roads.