The Walworth County Highway Department is responsible for the snow and ice removal of about 400 lane miles of county trunk highways and an additional 700 lane miles of state highways through contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The majority of snow removal operations within Walworth County will occur between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. The service hours are provided as a guideline and may be modified on a case-by-case basis. The Highway Department will also provide emergency service between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. primarily at the request of the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office.
The intent of snow removal operations within Walworth County is to maintain a safe environment for the traveling public with the goal to create a “passable roadway.” A passable roadway is defined as a roadway surface that is free from as much ice and snow pack as is practical and can be traveled safely at reasonable speeds. A passable roadway should not be confused with a “dry pavement” or “bare pavement,” which is essentially free of all ice, snow and any moisture from shoulder to shoulder. The “dry or bare pavement” condition might not exist until the weather conditions improve to the point where this pavement condition can be provided.
The definition of “reasonable speed” is considered a speed at which a vehicle can travel without losing traction. During and immediately after a winter storm event, a reasonable speed will most likely be lower than the posted speed limit. Motorists can expect some inconvenience and will be expected to modify their driving practices to suit road conditions.
The primary method of snow removal shall be by plowing. Salt, sand-salt mix, salt with other additives, brine and brine with other additives may be used to enhance snow removal or to improve traction. Motorists should expect that snow will be plowed into cross streets and driveways as a normal part of snow removal operations.
Cold temperatures reduce salt’s effectiveness for de-icing roads. De-icing chemicals work by lowering the freezing point of water. Before a dry de-icing chemical can act, it must dissolve into a brine solution. The necessary moisture can come from snow on the road surface or from water vapor in the air. Changing ice or snow into water requires heat from the air, sun, pavement or traffic friction. Even when the pavement is below freezing, it holds some heat and can help melt snow and ice.
As air and pavement temperatures drop, the amount of salt needed to melt a given quantity of ice increases. Normally, a pavement temperature of around 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit is considered the lower limit for salt effectiveness. Once the temperature is reached, snow plow trucks simply can’t apply enough salt to the roadway to achieve the necessary melting action.
Applying chemicals during blowing snow and cold temperatures will cause drifting snow to stick to the pavement, thus creating hazardous travel conditions.
Topography also plays a factor in freezing and melting conditions. Shaded areas are the first to freeze and last to melt because of their lower pavement temperatures. Sunshine and warmer temperatures are essential to getting the roadways back to normal winter driving conditions after an event involving significant snow or ice and chilly temperatures.
Until the temperatures are such that salt is effective, snow plow trucks continue to clear the roadways by plowing the layer of snow where necessary. When temperatures rise and salt application resumes, travelers can expect slushy conditions on the roadways and patches of packed snow or ice. Drivers should adjust their speed for conditions and not use cruise control.
Snowplow laws
- The county Highway Department is not liable for injuries caused by ice or snow accumulation on the roadway unless it has been there for more than three weeks. It typically takes only a day or two, even in the worst storms, to remove the majority of the ice and snow from the pavement;
- It is illegal to follow a snowplow closer than 200 feet upon any highway with a posted speed limit of more than 35 mph if the snowplow is engaged in snow and ice removal.
Safety reminders
Snowplows travel much slower than the posted speeds because a slower speed is most effective for clearing roads. The driver’s field of vision is severely restricted behind the truck, and the driver must rely on mirrors to see to the rear and side of the truck. Remember to:
- Be patient – Snowplows are working to improve road conditions for drivers;
- Stay back at least 200 feet – 12 car lengths – between a vehicle and a plow;
- Stay alert for snowplows that turn or exit frequently and often with little warning. They also may travel over centerlines or partially in traffic to further improve road conditions;
- Slow down to a safe speed for conditions. Snowplows typically move at slower speeds – about 20 to 35 mph.
The Walworth County Snow and Ice Plan is available on the Walworth County Public Works Highway Department website.
More information can be obtained by contacting Walworth County Public Works by phone at (262) 741-3114 or email at alimones@co.walworth.wi.us.
