Information Provided By Pennsauken Department of Public Works

As more winter weather is expected later today, Public Works reminds residents about how it prepares for snow and ice.

Typically, plowing operations won’t begin until four inches of snow accumulation. Public Works has the rock salt storage building filled to the brim and is ready for whatever conditions Old Man Winter throws our way.

When snow accumulation eventually reaches plowable levels, an unavoidable household chore is triggered: digging out the driveway. Wherever possible, residents should park their vehicles in their driveways before the anticipated snowfall begins. With clear streets, our crews can fully open each street “curb-to-curb,” as they are instructed to. This prevents stretches of street not being plowed as our dump trucks cannot maneuver between closely parked vehicles.

If street parking must occur, try to coordinate with neighbors and park on one side of the street. That way, after the plow comes through, there is a clear side for vehicles to relocate to. We realize that this is impossible for certain sections of town, due to the design of our early neighborhoods. If you choose to shovel your driveway apron before we plow your street, or if multiple rounds of plowing are required, when facing the street, place the snow on the right side of your driveway. This would reduce the amount of snow that a plow could potentially grab from the street and push back into your driveway apron.

When shoveling, place snow on your front lawn and not in the street. There is much more area for snow disposal on your front lawn than the grass curb strip area where the street snow will need to end up. Heavy, wet snow is dangerous! Only shovel a small amount at a time to prevent back injuries.

Public Works will also begin to apply road brine to our streets, when conditions permit, in advance of a snowstorm. This will greatly assist our ability to keep ice from forming in the wake of our plows. You’ll see the familiar striping pattern appear on cold, dry days prior to a snow event. If rain is in the forecast, before snowfall, brine is typically rendered ineffective. But when possible, brine prevents the snow from bonding to the pavement in the center of the streets.

For any questions, please contact Public Works at 856-663-0178 or publicworks@pennsauken.gov.