In the Know About Snow

When the snow begins to fall, the City of Urbana Public Works Department snow crews are ready to spring into action with a strategically organized snow removal plan designed to get the streets cleared and you on your way as quickly as possible.

In heavy snow events, the City works around the clock towards this goal with a force of approximately 12 crew members per 12 hour period. The city has available 23 pieces of snow control equipment, a salt storage facility with a capacity of 1400 tons, and a snow budget averaging $140,000 annually to maintain approximately 300 lane miles of roadway in Urbana.

For your safety and convenience, these primary arterial streets are treated first:

• FLORIDA and VINE
  
• PHILO and WINDSOR
• BRADLEY and LINCOLN
• GREEN and PENNSYLVANIA
• WASHINGTON and MAIN
• SPRINGFIELD and KINCH
• RACE and BROADWAY
• MUMFORD and COLORADO
• LIERMAN

We DO NOT plow the following state or township roads:

• IL 130
• Route 150
• University Ave. / US 150
• Cunningham Ave. / US 45
• I-74 Ramps & Bridges
• Edgewood Subdivision
• Scottswood Subdivision
• Yankee Ridge Subdivision

The City's primary and secondary snow removal routes can also be viewed on this interactive map.

It is the policy of the Urbana Public Works Department to remove all snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to City owned buildings and property. 

The Urbana City Council passed an ordinance on January 5, 2011 that requires property owners within identified snow removal districts to clear the  adjacent public sidewalk of snow and ice. Sidewalk Clearance Requirements can be found here. 

For more information regarding snow issues in Urbana and winter weather preparedness, please take a look at the information found in the PDF's below.

When travelling outside of the area, you can always check the status of state roads through the Illinois Department of Transportation website.

Additional statewide weather and preparedness information can be found here and here. 

The Urbana Public Works Department participates in an annual statewide Snow Roadeo sponsored by the Illinois Branch of the American Public Works Association.  Crew members use skills required during snow and ice events to compete with other public works agencies in the state.  Individuals are tested on a driving skills course and written safety exam.  The team with the highest score is awarded a trophy.  Check out the snow rodeo video.