The City of Madison declared a snow emergency on Saturday that will continue until Tuesday in light of the weather conditions and extensive plowing.
According to a news release by the City of Madison Streets Division, the city’s snow emergency went into effect on Saturday after a large snowstorm swept across the state. The snow emergency will remain in effect until at least 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to a statement released by the city’s Streets Superintendent Charlie Romines, the plows began working to clear the snow at 10 p.m. on Saturday. Romines said alternate side parking rules are in effect until the end of the snow emergency on Tuesday, though the Streets Division encouraged residents to consider off-street parking as the best option in the current conditions.
“Plowing takes 12 to 16 hours to complete,” Romines said in the statement. “Madison has nearly 1,800 miles of traffic lanes that need to be plowed, and it just takes a long time to get to them all.”
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The Streets Division said cars parked in the snow emergency zone should be especially aware of their parking positions and consider off-street options. The snow emergency zone includes most of the downtown isthmus area, branching off towards the Vilas, Greenbush and Bay Creek neighborhoods. The Marquette and Atwood neighborhoods are also included in the zone.
Since plowing began early Saturday morning, Romines said that 34 Streets Division crews have been working to salt routes and put sand to residential areas in response to the heavy snowfall over the weekend.
“When the citywide plowing begins, approximately 150 pieces of plowing equipment will be deployed to plow every street in Madison,” Romines said.
Romines also cautioned drivers about the snowy conditions throughout Monday, given the chance plowing operations might not be finished by the time drivers were out and about.
“When temperatures dip below 20 degrees, salt at the rate spread by the Streets Division becomes less effective,” Romines said.“This could result in some snowy patches along salt routes.”
Romines said more plowing and other clean-up operations in the aftermath of the storm will continue through Monday into the night. For more information or updates, see the City of Madison’s Winter website.
