Joliet residents can now track snow removal progress online

The city of Joliet is now offering residents the ability to view snow removal operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week during winter storms.

“The new snowplow tracker application will provide residents the ability to track snow removal progress during winter storms and help answer questions the residents may have”, Greg Ruddy, director of Public Works, said in a release from the city.

Residents can follow activities by clicking on the following link: https://joliet.plowtracker.com/

The city is also reminding residents of its snow removal policies and actions.

City snowplows may unintentionally push snow onto sidewalks at street corners and intersections. This is unavoidable, and it is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner to remove these snow berms, according to the city.

Residents should remove their vehicles from the streets until city crews have had a chance to clear the roads. Roadway crews will not return to streets after vehicles have been moved until the following day, after being notified by the residents, according to the city‘s release.

The city’s Roadways Division will mobilize crews when there is a measurable accumulation of snow or hazardous conditions, such as freezing rain, according to the release.

Street priorities

Street plowing operations are performed in the following order:

1. Major arterial streets, hospital routes, hills, and bridges
2. Subdivision main routes and collector streets
3. All remaining subdivision streets
4. Cul-de-sacs and dead ends

The city does not plow alleys, according to the release.

“Due to the cost of de-icing materials, the Roadway Division’s policy is to apply salt on major arterials and subdivision mains at intersections and mid-blocks. A mixture of salt is used only at intersections on subdivision streets. As a result, these streets should not be expected to be immediately cleared to the pavement,” the city said in the release.

Joliet snowplow crews use a mixture of rock salt and organic liquids containing sugar beet juice to combat snow accumulation and freezing on the roadways, which the city said is “effective in extremely cold conditions and is less corrosive to streets, vehicles, and vegetation.”

The Roadways Division is responsible for over 600 centerline miles with a fleet of 45 plow trucks and a crew of 47 employees. The city’s goal is to clear all streets within 24 hours after the snow event ends, but heavier snowfalls may take longer to clear, according to the release.

Snow parking ban

On-street parking is prohibited by City Ordinance (16900, Section 19-142) when snowfall accumulations reach 2 inches or more. Once plow trucks have cleared the entire street by your home or business, then you can return your vehicle to the street, according to the release.

In older neighborhoods that may not have adequate off-street parking options, the city encourages residents to seek permission from neighbors with off-street parking spaces or use other parking options, such as commercial or church parking lots.

The Joliet Police Department has the authority to issue parking tickets for vehicles left on city streets during a snow event that requires a parking ban due to 2 or more inches of snow, according to the release. Additionally, they may tow vehicles at the owner’s expense, including all associated towing and storage costs, according to the release.

For any questions or emergencies, call the the Joliet Department of Public Works at 815-724-3650 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends, holidays, or after hours, call the Police non-emergency at 815-726-2491.