Do plows ever come through alleys? Who clears the sidewalk corner? We answer Milwaukee snow removal questions.
It's a fact of life in Milwaukee: When it's winter, snow falls. And even though it happens every year, it can still cause big disruptions.
The city's Department of Public Works has a great FAQ page for snow removal questions and the latest status, but here's some more insider knowledge for you.
When are streets plowed in Milwaukee?
The city's goal is to clear streets 18 to 24 hours after the end of a snowfall.
During a snowstorm the city deploys hundreds of plow trucks.
Milwaukee County Operations is responsible for clearing the freeways.
City officials say clearing snow and ice in the winter of 2022-23 is likely to take longer because of a worker shortage in the city Department of Public Works. The department will try prioritizing residential streets as opposed to focusing so intensely on main thoroughfares.
The worker shortage will also impact other services such as garbage and recycling pick up.
More:Expect delays in snow removal, garbage pickup and other services this winter, Milwaukee DPW warns
What should I know about street parking in a snow emergency?
If a snow emergency is called, people cannot park overnight on main streets. Street signs will indicate if overnight parking is not allowed.
On side streets, drivers must park on the odd side if it is an odd date before midnight, and an even side if it is an even date before midnight.
Does the city play favorites in whose streets are plowed first?
Arterial ways, or main streets, identified by the city are the first to get plowed because those have the highest traffic and are used the most in emergencies.
After that, the city does its best to not play favorites. The city plows in a certain order one year, and then goes in reverse order the next year.
Do plows skip streets for any reason?
The DPW never intentionally skips a street, but it does happen.
Delays can occur when parked vehicles encroach on the path of a plow, causing it to be unable to clear the block.
With 1,472 miles of street throughout the city, from time to time a block may be missed during a first pass on a route. The DPW has route monitors and other personnel patrolling to do their best to notice missed streets and rectify it as soon as possible.
Does the city haul snow?
When there is massive accumulation that prevents the DPW from restoring the public right-of-way, snow is moved to the dedicated snow dump.
Who plows alleyways?
The city considers most alleyways private property, like they would a driveway, so it is up to you and your neighbors to clear snow off alleyways.
Many people in the city hire a private plowing service to do their alley, and work with neighbors to pitch in.
There are exceptions — a few homes with city addresses are in alleys. The city doesn't have data on where those homes are, but in the few cases, the city will clear snow up to the home in the alley.
If I don't clear my alley, will garbage pickup still come?
If you manage to remove snow in your alley for weeks, the city may not pick up garbage.
"If we cannot access the alley we can’t guarantee collection," DPW spokesman Brian DeNeve said in an email.
If garbage collection does come through, you might have gotten lucky.
"There have been rare occasions where DPW will use a front end loader to clear a path for a garbage truck to provide collection," DeNeve said.
Who is responsible for clearing sidewalks, and how soon after a storm?
Sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owners to clear. Renters sometimes have to clear snow, too, if that is a contingency of the lease.
Residents have 24 hours to clear sidewalks after the end of a snowfall event. The city can issue a $50 fine if a sidewalk is not cleared.
People can let the city know about uncleared sidewalks by calling 414-286-2489, but the DPW encourages residents to be a good neighbor and consider clearing sidewalks, especially if the neighbor is elderly or disabled.
I live on the corner. Whose job is it to clear the sidewalk ramp that allows pedestrians to cross the street?
Residents adjacent to the curb cut are responsible for clearing it. But, if a plow comes up and affects a resident's ability to clear the corner, it becomes the city's responsibility.
Does the city clear sidewalks anywhere?
There are 59 miles of sidewalks that are the City of Milwaukee's responsibility to clear.
Who shovels out fire hydrants?
It is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner to clear fire hydrants.
What about the suburbs?
Each municipality has its own rules for parking and snow removal.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee snow removal: sidewalks, plows, and more questions answered
