Snow & Ice Removal

WARNING
TOWN OF CORTLANDVILLE HAS A NO ALL-NIGHT PARKING ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PARKING ON ALL HIGHWAYS WITHIN THE TOWN BETWEEN 1AM TO 7AM FROM NOV. 1 TO MAY 1. PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE IS A ($100) FINE & REMOVAL AND STORAGE CHARGES ($50+)
  • The Town has five plow routes, with each taking approximately 3.5 hours to make a cycle under normal conditions. Peak traffic hours, equipment breakdowns, a real heavy snowfall, and/or ice storm can add another one-half to one hour to a route. This means that if it's snowing at the rate of one inch per hour, there can be four inches of snow on the roads before the plow returns for the next pass.
  • Everyone would like to have their street/road plowed and sanded at a time that's most convenient for them, but hills where school buses travel receive priority. The Department asks for patience during a heavy snowfall... we will be there!!!
  • Please check your mailbox and post condition to make sure they will hold up to the winter snow. The snow being thrown off the end of the plows will knock over any weak boxes or posts. Depending on the roadway our plow widths are at minimum 15 feet and go more from the centerline. The wing height is 40 inches on the snow plows so you will need more than 42 inches of height clearance to keep your mailbox safe. The drivers do a fine job of missing mailboxes, but for example if an oncoming vehicle is too close to the centerline this puts the driver and plow closer to your mailbox. Due to traffic and other possible conditions including icy pavement, mailboxes can be hit. By following these guidelines it will ensure that your mailbox has a much higher chance of surviving the long winter months.

Why does DOT spread salt before a storm?

Salting the road before a storm forms a layer of brine on the pavement, greatly decreasing the formation of ice on the roadway. Pre-treating allows us to use less salt and also makes it easier to plow the snow off of the road safely since the snow is not frozen to the pavement. This treating is also done with liquid products such as magnesium chloride. This liquid has a green color to it and an added rust inhibitor.

Snow and Ice Maintenance

Crews remove snow and ice from designated town roads through plowing, salting, and sanding. The objective of Snow and Ice Maintenance is to provide the traveling public with the ability to travel on highways at reasonable and prudent speeds within the limitations imposed by the extremes of weather, and within the resources of the Highway Department. 

Salt and/or abrasives will be applied on roadways during inclement weather, which will or has caused slippery conditions. Salt will be applied in accordance with the Town Policy, "salt use for snow and ice control". Abrasives may also be applied to improve vehicular control. Plowing will begin when the application of salt and/or abrasives are no longer effective due to the accumulation of snow of approximately 1½”. Plowing will be repeated as necessary.  

Winter Tips

  • Snowplow equipment and sanders operate at approximately 25 mph or less.
  • Approach snowplow equipment with extreme caution, slow down and keep to the right as much as possible.
  • Do not leave snow on the roadway or shoulders of roadway after clearing snow from driveway. Depositing snow into the roadway is a form of littering and you could be ticketed for it and have to pay a fine, under the N.Y.S. vehicle and traffic law section 1219 (a). If you push snow across a roadway, clean up the roadway and push all the snow past the snowplow plow lane. The large snowplow trucks cannot push back large frozen piles of snow without breaking something and costing major repairs.
  • Do not tailgate plow trucks or sanders, and stay back at least 200 feet.
  • Snow plows have to turn around at intersections to clean snow off the roadway, therefore they will be backing up into traffic. Please stay back and allow them the room to safely backup so no one gets injured.
  • If you park on or near the shoulder, park far enough off the centerline of the road so snowplows and vehicles can get by you. You should park more then 16 feet from the centerline or behind the mailbox line.  
  • Keep in mind, the snow from the plows will be thrown in the 10-12 foot area off the edge of a roadway. Nothing should be left in this area.