Winter Weather Information
Preparing for Snow Season
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works prepares year round to handle the onslaught of winter weather that will affect more than 8,000 lane miles under its jurisdiction. Each fall, the vehicles and equipment used during winter weather are put through maintenance checks and a comprehensive inspection. In addition, city employees are trained annually, participating in an extensive master plow training course to ensure the proper handling of vehicles and safe winter driving tactics.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Action Plan
The level of intensity and the duration of the storm dictates the frequency and type of treatment. In a typical snow storm, crews will pre-treat roads and when snow falls, begin to plow primary snow routes. Primary routes are the first to be plowed because they link the city’s police, fire and emergency services. However, if snow is predicted to fall during morning or evening rush hour, crews will plow shock routes first, which are major thoroughfares in to and out of the city. Once the shock and primary routes have been addressed, secondary snow routes are given attention.
The City of Indianapolis encompasses more than 4,100 additional lane miles of residential streets. In previous years these have not been addressed. Currently, DPW has a plan in place to clear residential streets in a manner that provides the most mobility to thecommunity as allowed by available resources. In these situations, DPW will work to address every residential street in all areasbased upon size (width) limitations of the street.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Winter Driving Safety Tips
• Decrease your speed and leave yourself extra stopping room. Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
• Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
• Keep your lights and windshield clean.
• Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
• Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
• Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
• Don't pass snow plows and salting trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
• Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
For up-to-date information on road conditions during a winter storm, visit our Operations Center update site.
For other questions or concerns, please contact the Mayor's Action Center online or call (317) 327-4MAC for assistance.