fy 2017 snow plan · if weather forecasts predict only a light dusting or ½ - 1” of snow, and...

FY 2017 Snow Plan

3556 Dam Neck Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23453

Public Works Operations

Procedure Report

Snow Plan—Procedure Report FY 2017

Table of Contents

Section 1 Introduction 1

Section 2 Snow Alert Initiation 2

Section 3 Snow Control Procedures 6

Section 4 Snow Zones and Prioritization 8

Zones 1 & 3 Routes Areas 1 through 4

Zone 2 Routes Areas 1 through 3

Zone 4 Routes Areas 1 and 2

Section 5 Frost Patrol Procedures 21

Frost Patrol Route Maps

Section 6 Master Street Listing 25

Snow Plan — Procedure Report FY 2017

Section 1 Introduction

Public Works Operations endeavors to maintain mobility on Priority 1 and Priority 2

streets. During snowfall, Operations crews concentrate on keeping the main arterials

(Priority 1) passable for public transportation and emergency vehicles. After snow stops

falling, crews concentrate on clearing snow from priority 1, 2, & 3 streets for general

public use as promptly as possible. Neighborhood streets are not cleared. Parked

vehicles and other safety considerations do not make snow removal from these streets

practical or cost effective.

Public Works Operations is equipped with 22 single axle dump trucks,15 tandem dump

trucks, and a combination of chemical spreaders and snow plows. In addition, one

motor grader, one bulldozer, and five front-end loaders are also available to move

snow and ice when conditions warrant. Abrasives (sand and salt) are used when

freezing conditions exist and are first applied on the City’s bridges and culverts. “Ice on

Bridges” signs exist at 18 bridge locations. Priority 1 streets include streets that access

hospitals, fire stations and police stations. Parking lots for these facilities are not cleared

by Public Works.

Public Works Operations goal is to have the (approximately 900 lane miles) Priority 1

streets passable to public transportation and emergency vehicles within 12 hours after

snow stops falling. The goal for Priority 2 and 3 streets (approximately 324 lane miles) is

to be passable within a 24-hour period after snow stops falling. The intensity of the

storm and factors such as temperature, time of day, day of the week, wind conditions,

etc., will actually dictate the length of time it takes to clear city streets.

If snow accumulation is more than City equipment and manpower can effectively

manage, local contractors under contract to the City are called upon to provide

assistance.

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FY 2017 Snow Plan — Procedure Report

Section 2 Snow Alert Initiation

During normal working hours the Streets Superintendent of Operations monitors and

initiates the alert depending on conditions, following procedures below. Nights,

weekends, and holidays the 706 Supervisor notifies the Streets Superintendent of

Operations. 706 is the after hours emergency response team. If the Streets

Superintendent of Operations cannot be contacted, then the Streets & Highways

Engineer is notified. The Streets & Highways Engineer will confer with the Operations

Engineer to confirm level of response.

The Command Center for Public Works Operations is located at the Dam Neck Yard

Facility. There are four materials yards located throughout the City, at Dam Neck,

Oceana, Euclid, and Pungo Public Works yards. The Command Center is staffed

around the clock when operationally required and reports directly to the Emergency

Operations Center (EOC).

The following procedures should be followed to set the organization into action when

snow is in the forecast:

1. All personnel assigned to the snow plan are required to call their supervisor for

instructions and orders. They are to report only on the shift (day or night) to which

they are assigned by their supervisor. It is necessary to have all Public Works

Operations employees assigned to the snow plan available for duty, particularly at

night, weekends and holidays. Therefore, if any employee expects to be out of the

City during such periods, they must notify their immediate supervisor(s) before

leaving the City. Current telephone numbers must be provided by all employees so

they can be reached in case of emergency (e.g. snow emergency).

2. Thoroughly inspect all equipment. Make all repairs and order stock or parts.

Particular attention should be paid to these components:

Inspect conditions of moldboard and cutting edge of all snow plows.

Inspect snow plow hoists.

Check air and hydraulic hoses and other critical parts on power units.

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Section 2 Snow Alert Initiation (cont.)

Inspect all vehicle lighting, including wiring and sockets on headlights, tail

lights, stop lights and turn signals (warning lights must be visible from all sides).

Verify sufficient stock of tires, spreader repair parts and other miscellaneous

supplies are available.

Verify all personnel are familiar with spreader controls (manual or automatic).

3. Every operator should know what to expect of each piece of equipment.

Operators should check these items carefully:

SPREADER - Inspect pumps, hoses and fittings: check spinners and auxiliary engines.

CONTROLS - The two major components of any hydraulic system are the pump

and the controls, whether they are manual or automatic. All operators should

become thoroughly familiar with spreader controls. No two hydraulic systems are

exactly the same.

PLOWS - Blades should be carefully inspected during and after each use. If blade

wear begins eating into moldboard, it will be very costly to replace. Snow plow blades

do not wear evenly. Replace blades when they are badly worn at any point!

Operators should check blade wearing during storms (right-hand plows wear most

rapidly on the left side, while the opposite is true for left-hand plows.

Reversible plows may show wear on either side depending upon operating time in

each position).

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ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - Inspect and service all lighting and electrical equipment

regularly, including wiring and sockets. Faulty wiring and failure of alternators,

generators and batteries cause most of the downtime in winter maintenance vehicles.

Nothing is more terrifying and dangerous than a stalled and darkened vehicle in a bad

storm.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT - Make sure there are flashlights, flares, flags, safety vests and a first-

aid kit in truck cabs. It is preferable to wear hard hats at all times. Seat belts must be

worn during vehicle operation!!

4. All vehicle operators should know the location, telephone numbers and radio

numbers of emergency repair and refueling stations. The primary refueling stations are

located at the Dam Neck Highway yard and Euclid yard. Operators should call the

Dam Neck yard at 385-1470 to report emergencies.

5. If the late afternoon reports indicate the possibility of overnight ice / snowfall,

equipment will be readied by attaching snow plows and spreaders before the workday

ends. If weather forecasts indicate it, a certain portion of the work force will stay at

Dam Neck to begin clearing operations as conditions require. If the forecast indicates

ice / snow during the night, a portion of the work force may be sent home to get some

rest and report for duty at night.

6. The designated area supervisor shall be responsible for determining material needs

at the material yards and placing orders for restocking supplies. Stockpiling materials,

ordering chemicals and materials, stocking of replacement blade, etc., shall be

accomplished before a snow storm and during the storm as needed.

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7. The night / day shift Command Center Coordinator will be responsible for providing

status information of snow and road conditions to the Public Works Director’s Office,

Public Information Office and others as required.

8. SPREADING ABRASIVES: Two parts sand, one part rock salt.

TREAT BRIDGES FIRST - Bridges freeze long before road surfaces since cold air reaches

both the top and bottom surfaces of bridge decks, they do not hold warmth as a

roadbed does. They should receive early attention and an application of abrasives.

Bridge decks may ice over even when there is no precipitation because of high

humidity and low temperatures.

ABRASIVES ON THE HIGH SIDE OF ELEVATED CURVES - Salt brine will flow down across a

banked curve. If you spread salt down the center line, everything above it will remain

icy. Spread abrasives on the high side of the curve and let gravity work for you.

LEAVE NO GAPS - Operators must go beyond their assigned areas, if necessary, to plow

or salt a gap that has not been treated.

WATCH FOR DRIFTING - In continued high winds, maintain a patrol to watch for drifting

and slick spots even after the pavement has been cleared.

TRAFFIC ICING - Occasionally, under certain weather conditions, a paper-thin sheet of

ice forms in the wheel path on the pavement even when no snow has accumulated.

Equipment Operators should watch for this occurrence and apply salt or abrasives

immediately if it is detected.

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GET EQUIPMENT ON THE ROAD - When snowplows are mounted and trucks loaded, the

vehicle should be dispatched out of the yard and onto their plowing/spreading

assignments. Severe tie-ups could result because equipment operators are late getting

to critical points. Every attempt will be made to have equipment on the road when

the snow begins. It is far better to have your equipment on the road when the snow

begins, than in the maintenance yard. Motorist are reassured when they see spreaders

and plows on the roads..

9. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE:

After each storm, all equipment must be cleaned, hosed down, and allowed to dry.

When dry, components such as chains, spreaders, hinges, spinners, and other moving

parts should be coated with a light film of spray lubricant and spray grease. Grease all

bearings. Check hydraulics and quick disconnects for leakage.

Section 3 Snow Control Procedures

Stage I – Snow in the Forecast

During the period (18 to 24 hours ahead of anticipated snowfall), early and final

preparations are made. All equipment should be checked, gassed-up, minor repairs

made, and a final list of “on-line” available equipment prepared. Snow plows will be

mounted and material spreaders will be prepared to roll immediately. Our goal is to

have material spreaders on the streets in sufficient strength to begin work as snow

begins to accumulate/stick on the roadway. All ALPHA employees stand ready to

receive instructions.

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Section 3 Snow Control Procedures (cont.)

Stage II – Snow Storm Starts

Material spreaders begin sanding/salting as soon as the pavements become coated

with snow or ice and continue as long as necessary and directed. All bridges,

intersections, and curves are treated first.

If weather forecasts predict only a light dusting or ½ - 1” of snow, and the temperature

is above 25° Fahrenheit, material spreaders alone will be sufficient to clear the streets.

However if, 2-4” of snow is in the forecast, plans will be made to commit plows when 2”

of snow is on the streets.

Weather reports and supervisor’s reports from the field are continuously evaluated.

Stage III – Snow of 2” on the Streets

This is the sanding/salting and plowing stage. Plows are used with the spreaders in

order to decrease the amounts of sand and chemicals used to improve the quality of

the job. Plowing is done ahead of the spreaders. Superintendents and supervisors shall

patrol previously plowed streets to determine if additional plowing and/or spreading

are necessary.

Stage IV – Snowfall Has Ended

Superintendents and supervisors patrol all Priority 1 streets to check the overall plowing

quality. Additional plowing may be necessary in selected areas. All equipment is

checked for damage. Repairs are made and everything is prepared for the next

snowfall.

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Section 4 Snow Zones and Prioritization

The City has been divided into four zones with sub-areas and routes within the zones.

This is necessary to coordinate the efforts of personnel and equipment on the roadways

for effective service. The maps included in this section identify the zone, area, and

prioritization of the roadways within. Bridges are also identified and are discussed

further in the frost patrol section of this report on page 21.

Snow Zones 1 and 3 contain 4 sub-areas. Area 1 includes approximately 138 lane miles

of priority 1 roadways, 27 lane miles of priority 2 roadways and 9 lane miles of priority 3

roadways. Area 2 includes approximately 111 lane miles of priority 1 roadways, 24 lane

miles of priority 2 roadways and 16 lane miles of priority 3 roadways. Area 3 includes

approximately 127 lane miles of priority 1 roadways, 46 lane miles of priority 2 roadways

and 6 lane miles of priority 3 roadways. Area 4 includes approximately 203 lane miles of

priority 1 roadways, 27 lane miles of priority 2 roadways and 2 lane miles of priority 3

roadways.

Snow Zone 2 contains 3 sub-areas. Area 1 includes approximately 143 lane miles of



miles of priority 2 roadways and 4 lane miles of priority 3 roadways. Area 3 includes

approximately 133 lane miles of priority 1 roadways, 13 lane miles of priority 2 roadways

and 13 lane miles of priority 3 roadways.

Snow Zone 4 contains 2 sub-areas. Area 1 includes approximately 98 lane miles of



miles of priority 2 roadways. There are no priority 3 roadways in Area 2.

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Section 5 Frost Patrol Procedures

The frost patrol was established in 2004 due to concerns that many bridges in Virginia

Beach are susceptible to rapid frosting and icing under certain wind and temperature

conditions. Most bridges have elevations and designed curves which present under-

flowing wind exposure, and many are above waterways. The resulting slippery

condition can present a serious hazard for traffic, particularly in the early morning rush

hour. As an early response to minimize public risk, our bridges have been categorized

into three (3) routes for patrol: a northeast route, a northwest route, and a southern

route. Staff are identified for each route, and patrols begin November 1st each year

and run to March 31st. Patrols begin at 3:30 am each morning, 7 days a week, with

one (1) spreader dump truck dedicated to each of the three routes.

Response is contingent each day on a base line temperature of 35 degrees or less. This

is established using a 5 day weather forecast which is updated twice a week from

NOAA Weather, and also by reviewing local conditions by computer. This adjustment

to the process was put in place in 2008. When the temperature is forecast to approach

35 degrees or less, the Operations Superintendent or designee will determine if route

staff should report in for patrol. The outcome for each day is tracked through our

computerized work management system.

The maps on the following pages identify the routes and the bridges. The northeast

route contains 20 bridges, the northwest route contains 22 bridges, and the southern

route contains 11 bridges.

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fy 2017 snow plan · if weather forecasts predict only a light dusting or ½ - 1” of snow, and...

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