December 20, 2017 at 1:23 p.m.
GUEST COLUMN: What to expect from the highway department this winter
During a normal winter, the Iowa County Highway Department spends between $1.7 and $1.9 million on snow and ice control and removal. The department typically responds to some 38+ snow and ice events/ storms requiring snow/ice removal annually. The annual allowance maintains around 600+ centerline miles of state and county highway in the county.
In 2014, the Iowa County Board of Supervisors Committee on Transportation created, established and approved a Snow and Ice Removal Policy to govern the operations of the Iowa County Highway Department and to contain costs. This policy defined the snow and ice removal operations for the highway department's winter storm response with regard to the level of service to be provided on the County Trunk Highway System.
A copy of the policy in its entirety may be downloaded from the Iowa County Highway Department webpage at iowacounty.org under the category 'Documents' or by contacting the Highway Department at 608-935-3381.
With an exception to freezing rain or ice events, the department will operate on the County Trunk Highway System between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Responses during hours other than 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. due to emergency situations may be coordinated with law enforcement.
On weekends, the department will not begin operations until there is a snowfall event(s) of greater than two inches in depth or freezing rain or ice events. No county trunk highways will receive service between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. on weekdays or on weekends unless an icing event and deemed necessary by the Highway Commissioner or Operations Manager.
With regards to the department's policy on snow and ice removal operations for State Trunk Highway Maintenance, the State Highway Maintenance Manual establishes the requirements and level of service to be provided. The county has two level of service requirements for the state system.
Class one service is provided on U.S. Highway 151/18 and State Highway 18 between Montfort and Dodgeville. Class one service means the department operates on a 24 hour/seven days a week basis around the clock from the onset of a storm until its completion and subsequent cleanup.
Class two service is provided on all other state trunk highways in the county. Class two service is provided on State Highways 14, 23, 39, 80, 130, 133 and 191, which means during a snow and/or ice event, these roads are attended on an 18-hour window depending on the onset of the storm. In essence; the department attends to snow and ice issues on the class two state roadways in the county between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. seven days a week on these routes.
The department operations shall refrain from winging back and clearing shoulders during after-normal-hours timeframes. Winging and pushing back of snow from shoulders for future events shall occur during the normal hours of work schedule of the department. The department shall maintain a 'White Shoulder' policy for the gravel shoulder portions of its highways, whereas operators shall carry the toe and heel of their wing plows during freeze-thaw cycles and after-normal-hours timeframes.
The department recognizes some properties belonging to private landowners exist within the county right of way - in particular mailboxes and fences. The department shall be responsible for mailboxes which are hit by equipment and machinery in accordance with the Highway Department Mailbox Damage policy. The department shall only be responsible for the damage to fences which are outside of the county trunk highway right of way, in accordance with the Fence Damage and Replacement Policy.
The intent of establishing the Iowa County Highway Department's Snow and Ice Control Policy is to provide a uniform understanding of the priorities and procedures used to combat snow and ice related to road conditions. The Iowa County Highway Department attempts to maintain adequate traction for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions. This does not mean bare, dry pavement should be expected during or immediately after each snowfall. Furthermore, this does not mean the roads will be totally free of ice and/or snow at all times.
We recommend that you plan ahead for the weather conditions if you are driving, and provide ample opportunity to get where you are going.
