Snow Plowing Information 
The Public Works Department is responsible for keeping traffic moving on approximately 94.3 lane miles of the Village's streets, including approximately 121 cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets. The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for Grand Avenue and Route 45. Lake County Department of Transportation plows Sand Lake, Gelden, Grass Lake, and Deep Lake Roads. All other roads in Lindenhurst are maintained by the Public Works department.
Before the snow and ice season starts, Public Works makes sure to plan and prepare for the season ahead of time by retrofitting all Village trucks, loading salt and beet-heet. This planning process is made considerably more difficult due to the variable conditions encountered during each storm. Such things as duration, rate, accumulation of snowfall, moisture content, time of day or night, wind direction, wind velocity, traffic volume, and temperatures are all factors that interact to create a unique aspect for each storm, with the result that no two storms are ever identical.
During snow and ice operations, Public Works snowplow drivers make an effort to minimize the amount of snow that deposits at the end of residents' driveways. However, snow deposits are unavoidable. To lessen the driveway snow left by plows, when shoveling or snow blowing your driveway apron, place the snow on the right side (when facing the street) of the driveway. Please do not place snow onto the roadway.
Snow and ice control is considered emergency work in that streets must be cleared any time of the day or night. Snow and ice control operations may be conducted on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, seven (7) days per week. Thus, Village staff must be prepared to shift from normal work procedures any time it becomes necessary to initiate snow and ice control operations. Typically, personnel are assigned to twelve (12) hour shifts that continue until the snow emergency has been eliminated. Snow plow operations will typically begin once the snow begins to accumulate on the roadway, or the roads begin to become slick.
In addition to using salt to treat Village roads, the Village of Lindenhurst uses an environmentally friendly method to remove snow and ice called Beet-Heet. Using beet-heet has several advantages that include:
- Mixed with salt brine, beet-heet helps treat icy or snow-packed surfaces at a lower temperature.
- Lessens the corrosive properties of salt.
- Contains sugars that act as cryoprotectants which slow down the rate at which melted snow and ice refreeze.
Since the beet-heet is being mixed with salt, residents should see a noticeable difference in the de-icing materials being applied to streets. This mixture is used as a method of pre-treatment. When applied to the pavement, this treatment mechanism lowers the freezing point of water. This prevents a strong bond from forming between the pavement surface and the frost/snow. As a result, the road stays wet or slushy, rather than icy. When freezing rain or ice is expected, snow operations may utilize rock salt to pre-treat the pavement.
If your mailbox has been damaged by a Village snow plow, please
submit a service request or contact the Village Hall at
847-356-8252. The Village will replace qualified mailboxes and/or posts with a standard US Postal Service delivery mailbox, or provide the resident up to $50 reimbursement to replace the mailbox themselves.
Please practice driving with caution when road conditions are not ideal. AAA recommends the following winter driving tips.
- Avoid driving when fatigued. Get the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks.
- Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
- Never mix radial tired with other types of tires.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-ups.
- If possible avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy, and snowy weather.
- Do not use cruse control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
- Always look and steer where you want to go.
- Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.
