Snow and Ice Control

Snow and Ice operation is a critical, highly essential component of Bensenville’sIMG_9124 Public Works Department. Every year, the Village faces an array of different and unpredictable challenges to combat the snow & ice in order to keep our mobile public moving safely and efficiently. The following guidelines and a manual outline the system Village staff utilizes during Snow and Ice events. Because a snowstorm is a fluid event, the Village can vary from the manual in order to provide safest and most efficient service to our residents and businesses.

The Village’s main goal is to provide our transportation system with the best quality of roadways to make travel as safe as possible (especially during the event.) Our roadways are classified and plowed in this order:

  1. Arterial – plowed curb to curb with bare pavement between 4 & 8 hours after the snow stops falling.
  2. Collector – plowed curb to curb with bare pavement in the wheel lanes, slushy snow outside the wheel lanes and slushy snow on medians between 6 to 10 hours after the snow stops falling.
  3. Local Thru-Roads – plowed curb to curb & may have slushy drive lanes & light snow on curb lanes within 12 hours of the end of snowfall. This includes dead-ends and cul-de-sacs.
  4. Dead-ends and Cul-De-Sacs – see above.

Snow Plowing wsnowplowill commence at one (2) inches of snow or more, or fast approaching accumulation. Ice or snow events one (2) inch or less, signal the salting operation.

Sidewalk plowing starts at three (3) inches of snow or more (divided into primary, secondary and sub-secondary routes as outlined in the manual.)

Why does snow accumulate at residential/business driveways and aprons? In the areas without curb (driveway/apron), plowed snow is unrestricted and may accumulate on the apron. The Village understands how this can complicate private snow removal; unfortunately, it is a result of the plowing process. 

Safety and efficiency are the Village’s primary goals. The process of “curbing” removes snow from the curbed area of streets to allow effective drainage when melting begins, this process also allows the driving lanes to be opened up to their “normal” size. "Curbing" is performed after snowfall has stopped and plowing operations are halted.

Winter Parking Restrictions

Village Code 5-2-18 specifies the following:
A. It is unlawful to park or allow to remain any vehicle on any portion of any public street or highway following a snowfall of two inches (2") or more for a period of twenty four (24) hours, or until the streets have been cleared of snow, whichever period is less.
B. Vehicles which are parked in violation of this restriction will be ticketed and will be towed from the location of the violation to the storage area maintained by the towing firm authorized to remove the vehicle.
C. Permission for overnight parking on Village streets will not be granted following a snowfall of two inches (2") or greater. (Ord. 42-99, 7-20-1999) In order to ensure effective plowing and salting operations it is imperative vehicles are not parked on Village streets or in alleys. Alley parking is prohibited at any time (Ord. 12-83, 5-5-1983).

Snow Plowing or Dumping Prohibitions

Village Code 8-1-3: Snow Removal: No owner of any property situated in any zoning district shall place, deposit or dump snow removed from the sidewalks and driveways on said property onto the public streets or public alleyways. (Ord. 26-89, 5-16-1989) 605 ILCS 5/9-130:Sec. 9-130. No person, firm, corporation or institution, public or private, shall plow or remove or cause to be plowed or removed ice or snow from any shopping center, parking lot, commercial or institutional service area or driveway or any other public or private service area or driveway and deposit such ice or snow upon a public highway or along the shoulder or edge of a public highway. Such prohibition shall not pertain to a residential driveway or sidewalk. Any person, firm, corporation or institution, public or private, who violates this Section is guilty of a petty offense. (Source P.A. 83-1362)