Frequently Asked Questions

Plowing generally begins when snow becomes more than two-inches deep and when freezing temperatures indicate that no melting will occur. If there is a light snowfall and the afternoon sun is melting the fallen snow, it will be left to Mother Nature to remove the snow.

Parking is prohibited along Pratt Avenue when two inches or more of snow accumulates. Cars parked on Pratt Avenue will be ticketed and towed. See additional alternate side parking restrictions above. Receive notifications when alternate side parking is in effect by signing up. 

Salting is necessary to prevent melting snow from turning to ice. Once ice forms and becomes bonded to the pavement, it is very difficult to remove. Salting is typically done when the snow depth is one inch or less or if an icing condition occurs. Salting begins once the snow subsides and the salt will have time to take effect. The Public Works Department strives to use salt wisely and judiciously during any snow removal effort. Snow removal conditions will be rated using the following system:

Condition 1 More Than Two Inches of Snow Is Expected

Main streets, bridges, parking lots, and other hazardous areas mentioned by the Police Department or resident complaints must be salted. The whole town will be salted only in the case of freezing rain.

Condition 2 Less Than Two Inches of Snow or an Icy Storm Is Expected

Main streets, bridges, parking lots, and other hazardous areas mentioned by the Police Department or resident complaints will be salted. The whole town will be salted only in the case of freezing rain.

Condition 3 No Snow Is Expected

Main streets, bridges, and hazardous areas will be salted. Intersections will be salted after the snow stops, depending on weather conditions.

Snow that gathers at street corners often needs to be pushed back onto the parkway so plows can fully clear the intersection and maintain a safe turning radius for vehicles. When a plow enters an intersection, the driver pushes snow in the direction of travel, which can result in one corner receiving more snow than another. This is a normal part of snow operations. Because of the size of the equipment and the need to keep routes moving efficiently during a storm, it is not practical or safe for plow drivers to maneuver through the intersection in a way that evenly distributes snow to all corners.

Snow piles at corners can occasionally create challenges near school bus stops. If snow has accumulated in an area where children wait, they may need to stand slightly up the street to safely board the bus. Please remind children not to climb or play on snow piles, as visibility is reduced and plow trucks may return for additional passes.

If snow at a particular corner is creating a visibility issue or blocking sightlines at an intersection, please contact the Public Works Department. Crews will evaluate the location and remove snow as time and conditions permit.

The Village maintains many miles of roadway, and snow operations are structured to clear streets in an organized, efficient sequence. During each winter event, plow operators work through their assigned routes in sections, beginning with the roads that carry the most traffic.

How Plowing Is Prioritized

1. Main and Collector Streets
   Plowing begins on major streets within each subdivision to ensure that primary travel routes remain open for residents, emergency vehicles, and school buses. These streets receive the first attention during every storm.

2. Secondary Residential Streets
   Once the main roads are cleared and safe, trucks move into the surrounding residential streets. Route layouts are planned to minimize backtracking, conserve fuel and salt, and create consistent, predictable progress throughout the Village.

3. Cul-de-Sacs and Dead Ends
   These areas require more maneuvering and take additional time.

   • Dead-end streets typically take about 10 minutes to clear.

   • Cul-de-sacs with a center island take about 20 minutes.

   • Cul-de-sacs without islands may take up to 30 minutes, as trucks have limited space to turn.

4. Alleys (where applicable)
   After primary and residential streets are addressed, crews follow up in alleys to ensure consistent access throughout each neighborhood.

The Village is only responsible for maintaining streets that fall within its jurisdiction. Several major roadways in Lincolnwood are maintained by other agencies, not by the Village.

• Lincoln Avenue, Cicero Avenue, Touhy Avenue, Devon Avenue, and McCormick Boulevard are maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

• Crawford Avenue is maintained by Cook County.

Because these roads are not under Village control, Lincolnwood does not plow, salt, or perform maintenance on them. Please contact the appropriate agency for concerns related to these routes.

Unfortunately, this is one of the consequences of owning a home in northern Illinois. Despite popular opinion, crews do not place snow in driveways on purpose. There is no practical way for the snow plow operator to cut off the windrow of snow when crossing a driveway. This problem is especially acute in cul-de-sacs because this is a very confined space. Cul-de-sacs require that all of the snow that is on the roadway within that confined space be placed along the outside of the circle. The problem is compounded by the fact that each homeowner then must clear their driveway, which places large piles on the corners of the drives.

In a cul-de-sac, it is extremely difficult to have the truck push snow onto a center island. Trucks are not built to be articulated into an angle that would allow placing a portion of the snow on the island, and centrifugal force causes the snow to move off of the plow toward the outside of the circle. Public Work's goal in clearing all streets is to maintain as much of the normal pavement width as possible, while at the same time, allowing acceptable access to the mailboxes by the postal carriers.

One thing you can do to reduce the amount of snow that is plowed in front of your driveway is to place as much of the snow as possible to the right side of your drive, as you face the street. This reduces the chance of snow previously removed from the driveway being pushed back onto your drive. This suggestion, however, may not work in cul-de-sacs that have driveway openings placed close together.

One major problem that works against snow removal operations is people shoveling or blowing snow back onto the street after it has been plowed and salted. Snow that has been deposited onto the street could refreeze and cause a hazardous condition for you or your neighbors. Please place the snow that you shovel off of your driveway and sidewalk onto the adjacent parkway and not back onto the street. When it starts to snow, park your vehicle off of the street. This protects the car from being splashed with slush and salt, prevents the car from being plowed in, or from receiving a ticket and being towed. Check that your mailbox and post are in good repair and that they are behind the curb, not leaning out over the street. If there is a fire hydrant in front of your home, please try to clear the snow around the hydrant. It is there for your protection and that of your neighbors. If you have any questions regarding our snow removal efforts, please call the Public Works at 847-675-0888. If a snow-related emergency occurs after 3:30 pm, you can call the non-emergency Police Department number at 847-673-2167.

When two inches or more of snowfall has accumulated, residents must follow alternate side street parking regulations:

• Even-numbered calendar days (M–F, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM):
   Park on the side of the street with even-numbered addresses.
• If you live at 6900 N Lincoln Avenue, you (and all your neighbors) would park on your side of the street on December 2nd and park on the other side on December 3rd.
• Odd-numbered calendar days (M–F, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM):
   Park on the side with odd-numbered addresses
• If you live at 7001 N Lawndale, you (and all your neighbors) would park on your side of the street on December 1st, and on the other side the next day.

Considerations:

• Alternate side parking is not in effect after 3:30 pm,  on weekends, or major holidays.
• Pratt Avenue is a designated snow emergency route after 2 inches of snowfall; no parking is permitted. 
• The goal of Public Works is to plow curb to curb, and following alternate side parking allows the plows to find the curb and clear the snow. This prevents snow and ice buildup both on the street and in the parking zones. 

 Unfortunately, our plow operators are not able to direct snow away from specific driveways or garages. Plows are designed to push snow to the curb line to keep the roadway safe and passable, which can naturally result in some snow accumulating at driveway openings. 

Here are a few tips that may help reduce the amount of snow build-up at the end of your driveway:

• Shovel a pocket on the right side of your driveway (the side the plow approaches from). This gives snow from the plow a place to drop before it reaches your driveway opening. It's generally recommended to have a 5-8 foot pocket to reduce snow flow onto driveway aprons. 

• Clear the area near the curb after each plow pass, if conditions allow. This helps prevent buildup as the plow makes additional passes during the storm.

• Keep snow on your property, rather than pushing it back into the street. This helps us maintain clear roadways and maintain the roads with predictability. Snow being shoveled back on to plowed and treated streets creates opportunity for unknown icy patches. 

• Shovel early and often during long-duration storms so snow doesn’t compact or freeze at the driveway. 

Roads naturally degrade over time due to traffic, weather, and environmental conditions. Repaving restores the road surface, ensuring safer and smoother travel.

Public Works selects roads for repaving based on pavement conditions, visual inspections, traffic volume analysis, budget constraints, and long-term planning goals.

Repaving typically takes about two weeks, one week involving preparation, concrete curb and sidewalk work, and another week for milling, inspections, repaving, and marking. Weather conditions may influence the timeline.

Water Main Work: 4-7 weeks

• Saw cutting the pavement: 1 day
• Excavation and Installation: 1 week for excavation, 1-3 weeks for new water main and valves installation
• Pressure Testing and Chlorination: Approximately 1 week
• New Water Services Installation: 1-2 weeks
• Abandonment of Old Water Mains: 1-2 days

Concrete Work: 7-10 days

• Saw Cutting the Concrete: 1 day
• Concrete Removal: 1-2 days
• Framing Sidewalks and Curbs: 1-2 days
• Pouring Concrete: 1 day
• Concrete Curing Process: 5 days

Road Resurfacing: 1-2 weeks

• Milling, Patching, Binder, Surface Course: Approximately 1-2 weeks

Site Restoration:

• Sod Installation: Approximately 1 week (Sod can only be placed after September when the daily temperatures drop below 80 degrees)

Note: Construction timelines may be delayed due to weather.

A water main is the principal pipeline that conveys clean, potable water from the pump house throughout the Village, connecting individual properties via smaller service lines. The Village maintains over 65 miles of water mains throughout the Village. 

Water mains are replaced based on age and condition. Over time, they can deteriorate, leading to structural weaknesses. Increased water demand may also require upgrading to larger pipes.

Water shutdowns occur when the new water main is being connected to the water system or when your service is switched from the old main to the new one.

Water shutdowns are anticipated to last no more than 6 hours, typically only a few hours. They usually occur between 9 am to 3 pm but can be extended for complicated installations. Shutdowns generally happen Monday through Thursday, except during emergencies. Service reconnections typically involve a 1-2 hour shutoff.

Yes, a member of the Village construction team will hand-deliver shutdown notices 24-48 hours in advance. However, there are instances where a water main breaks and an emergency shutdown is required. The Village does its best to notify the affected homes as soon as possible during a main break.

Water valves are critical in water distribution systems for:

• Control and Management: Valves allow precise control of water flow, enabling the isolation of specific sections for maintenance or emergencies without affecting the entire system.
• Maintenance and Repairs: Valves facilitate efficient repairs, minimizing service interruptions for residents.
• System Integrity: They help maintain water pressure and prevent leaks, ensuring consistent water flow to your home.

Concrete work is essential for repairing any damage caused by recent infrastructure projects. This includes fixing curbs, driveways, and sidewalks to ensure safety, functionality, and aesthetics.

Curbs are vital for safety and aesthetics. They direct stormwater to inlets, aid in drainage, guide snowplows, and enhance pedestrian safety by elevating walkways.

If your street is part of the yearly infrastructure program, the contractors may be preparing for work, such as saw-cutting pavement, which requires the street to be clear of cars. It is possible that the contractors may be using staging areas where heavy equipment, machinery, and materials are stored.

If your street is not on the yearly infrastructure program, it could mean that the Public Works Department needs greater access to the area.  Public Works may be preparing to trim or remove trees in the area or flush hydrants.  

There might be periods when you don't see workers on-site due to various factors, such as:

• Preparation/Testing Work: Some phases of construction, like material curing or waiting for tests to pass, don't require active labor.
• Weather Delays: Inclement weather can delay outdoor work, causing temporary pauses.
• Scheduling: Contractors may be coordinating with other crews or waiting for materials or equipment to arrive.
• Work Shifts: The construction schedule may include work during specific hours or days, so you might not see workers if they're not scheduled at that time.

If you ever have any questions about a project’s status, please call Public Works at 847-675-0888. 

Hydrant flushing is a routine process where fire hydrants are opened to allow water to flow through the pipes at a high speed. This helps clean out any build-up of minerals, rust, or sediment from the water system.

Hydrant flushing is essential for maintaining the quality and safety of our drinking water. Over time, particles can collect in the pipes, and flushing ensures that clean water continues to flow. It also allows the Village to check/exercise that hydrants are working properly, which is crucial for firefighting efforts.

Yes, it can temporarily cause your water to appear cloudy or discolored. This happens because the fast-moving water stirs up harmless minerals and sediments. While it may look unappealing, the water is still safe to use. However, it is recommended to let the water run until it clears before drinking, cooking, or laundry. This is best done through a garden hose or large fixture.

Flushing typically occurs in the spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate, and we can inspect hydrants without the risk of freezing pipes.

Each hydrant is flushed for several minutes to ensure the water is clear and the hydrant is working. The entire process for the Village may take a few weeks, but we try to minimize disruptions.

Yes, signage is posted at the intersections of each block and information is put out through Lincolnwood Local and the Village Website. 

If your water looks discolored after flushing, run the cold water tap or garden hose for a few minutes until it clears. It is recommended to wait to do laundry until the water runs clear to avoid any staining of clothes.

Yes. Flushing helps maintain the health of the water system by keeping water fresh and ensuring hydrants are ready in case of an emergency. It’s a small inconvenience that helps guarantee safe, reliable water for everyone in the community.