Snow Removal

Normal Snow Conditions
The City of Urbandale utilizes varying levels of equipment and personnel to respond to a winter storm depending on the amount of precipitation fallen and forecasted. The fleet available for snow and ice removal operations include a brine truck, dump trucks with front plows and underbody scrapers, a motor grader, a loader and pickups. This equipment, combined with a crew of trained equipment operators, will maintain streets for safe winter travel.

Liquid salt brine is applied to arterial streets prior to a snow or ice event. This process is called anti-icing. Applying chemical de-icers to a pavement before a storm can prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. This allows crews to remove snow from the pavement more effectively at a minimal cost.

In the event a minor winter storm takes place (less than 1" of snowfall), material spreading only may take place on all arterial streets and hills and intersections on residential streets. Salt and calcium chloride are applied to the streets with a crew of operators.

During a typical winter storm, all resources are utilized. Dump trucks continually plow arterial streets in an effort to achieve bare pavement. Dump trucks and a motor grader remove snow from residential streets. During a normal storm each residential street is plowed four times and if the duration of the storm warrants, the number may increase. There are over 200 cul-de-sacs in Urbandale and pickups are used to clear snow from these areas.

Emergency Snow Conditions
During snow events when plowing of residential streets is necessary, the City will put the Snow Ordinance into effect.  In a Snow Ordinance event, all vehicles must be removed from City streets. Vehicles parked in the street may be ticketed or towed.  After a storm, residents may park on the street as soon as it has been plowed from curb to curb or its entire width.  To help our operators perform their plowing duties in a safe and efficient manner, we ask that residents park elsewhere when the snow begins to accumulate.

Operators work a minimum of 12 hours and often as many as 18 hours continuously during snow removal operations and appreciate courteous and friendly drivers and pedestrians. Please help them help you.