Winter Weather Information

When major snow or ice storms hit the Township, chances are good that a snow emergency will be declared. The declaration of a snow emergency is a notice to all Township residents that substantial plowing must be done to clear the streets for safe passage.

Snow Emergency Regulations

After any snow emergency is declared and/or upon the accumulation of three inches of ice or snow, it shall be unlawful, at any time during the continuance of the emergency, for any person to park a motor vehicle or to allow that vehicle to remain parked anywhere on any snow emergency route designated in § 603 of this Part 6.

When a snow emergency has been declared due to accumulation pursuant to § 603, Subsection 2, below, it shall be unlawful to park any vehicle on streets throughout the Township, which are not specifically contained to § 603, Subsection 1, until the snow has been completely plowed for the full width of the cartway. If the property has a Driveway then the vehicles must be parked in the driveway until the Snow has been completely removed from the street and the Emergency has been lifted. This provision shall not apply to those streets within the Township where only on-street parking is available.

Snow Emergency Information
http://westnorritontwp.org/index.aspx?nid=296

Fire Hydrants Near Your Home

Please take a moment to dig out the fire hydrants near your house.  You doing it now will save us time if we show up on your street for a fire.  If we have to dig out a hydrant when we get there, we lose valuable time.

Helpful Snow Removal Tips

West Norriton Township Public Works Department makes storm preparedness a priority all year round. Salt and other necessary tools/materials are stocked in mid-summer to ensure that The Department has the necessary resources for Township residents to have a less stressful winter.

Please understand the Township’s snow removal process below to make sure everything can go according to plan during a storm:

Priority Roads 
As snow begins to accumulate, the Township concentrates on certain roads. The first streets that receive attention are the Snow Emergency Routes. Once the Snow Emergency Routes are treated then the crews move into their regular residential routes.

Snow on State Roads 
State snow removal crews are responsible for clearing state roads. These roads are as follows: W. Main St, Trooper Rd, W. Marshall St, Whitehall Rd and Burnside Ave. However, a Township plow will keep their blades down while traveling a state road to assist in the state’s snow removal process out of courtesy and safety for travelers.

Salting and Plowing 
There are two aspects of a snow operation – salting and plowing. When roads start to freeze from falling precipitation, salting operations begin on the Snow Emergency Routes and continue until all roads are completed or until it is no longer effective to salt (due to the depth of snow). The more traffic on a road, the more effective the salt. As a result, some residential streets with small amounts of traffic may appear to have not been salted.

Please keep in mind that as temperatures drop, salt becomes less effective. Once the temperature drops below 20 degrees, salt is no longer effective at all.

If snowfall accumulates and plowing is required, salting operations cease. When the snow stops and final plowing is accomplished on all roads, salt is spread again. All roads are monitored for icy spots and re-salted where dangerous conditions persist.

Mailboxes 
Each property owner should check their mailbox front to ensure that it is the minimum of 6 inches behind the face of the curb, which is within federal postal regulations. Prior to the start of winter, the homeowner should reset any mailboxes protruding past the minimum measurement of 6 inches behind the face of the curb. This will ensure that the mailbox will not be damaged during the plowing operations. Any damage that may occur will be the responsibility of the homeowner, unless the plow truck was directly responsible for the damage.

Basketball Backstops 
All basketball backstops should be removed from any Township Right-of-Way, which is generally 1 foot behind the sidewalk. Any damage that may occur during plowing operations will be the responsibility of the homeowner.

Driveway Clearing 
As salting and plowing are difficult operations to perform, residents are requested to park in their driveways when snow is anticipated to accumulate 3 inches or more, rather than on the street as per Ordinance #683. Please keep in mind that it is almost impossible to keep snow from being deposited at your driveway during plowing, as the plow cannot be lifted or stopped at each driveway as it passes.

Important Driveway Tip 
If you have your driveway plowed before the street is completed, clear an area to the left of the drive entrance (standing in the driveway, facing the street). When your street is plowed, the snow from the plow can be unloaded in this area instead of your driveway.

Plows sometimes find it necessary to make several passes in order to clear snow all the way to the curb to allow for proper drainage.

Please, do not empty snow from your driveway into the street; this slows the overall plowing operation. Also, if snow that is placed in the street freezes, it can create a traffic hazard.

Patience Please 
Please be patient, snow removal is a difficult and time-consuming process. Since Township crews need many hours of intensive labor to complete snow clearing operations, please try to limit your travel during and immediately following a snowfall unless absolutely necessary. The less traffic on the roads during snow clearing operations, the quicker the job can be accomplished.

Important Numbers  
For emergencies, call 911

Public Works Department: (610) 631-0450

Please only call if it is an urgent matter. If snow removal crews are sent off their normal routes on special efforts, it slows down the overall cleanup. Your street will be plowed as quickly as possible.

If you do call to report a condition, the information is immediately dispatched to a truck in your district. There is no need to call a second time.

In the event of a police, fire or ambulance emergency, the Township’s plow drivers are dispatched in conjunction with the emergency vehicles.

Neighbor & Family Safety 
West Norriton Township would like to thank residents for their continued support throughout the winter season, and remind residents to check on family, friends and neighbors to ensure their safety and wellbeing this winter.