Buffalo Grove details snow removal plan

With the holiday season approaching, Buffalo Grove is gearing up for its yearly battle with ice and snow.

Deputy Director of Public Works Rick Kuhl outlined this year's approach before the village board this week.

He said the ice and snow control program will deploy all public works employees, as well as employees from other agencies, such as fire, police, golf operations, and building and zoning, to man vehicles.

Routes will be divided into A and B routes, he said. The A routes will go into operation when the storm begins and last until the snow stops falling. Plows are sent out to make two passes in each direction on the main roads and one pass in each direction on side streets.

"Residents should remember that as long as it is snowing, we will not be plowing the roadways back to the curb," he said, adding that he does not advise residents to clear the end of driveways, "unless, of course, you want to keep up with the snow and not have a larger amount to clean up." However, "We will be back later, as soon as the snow stops falling."

The B routes are plowed after the snow stops falling, and the streets are plowed from curb to curb.

Main corridor routes are handled by a combination of state, county and local agencies. The Illinois Department of Transportation handles Illinois routes 68, 83, 22 and 53, as well as Milwaukee Avenue. Cook County highway crews deal with Arlington Heights Road and Buffalo Grove Road from Lake-Cook Road south to the village limits and Lake-Cook Road from Arlington Heights Road to 950 feet east of Milwaukee Avenue. Lake County's highway department covers Arlington Heights Road from Lake-Cook Road north to Route 83, Aptakisic Road, Buffalo Grove Road from Lake-Cook Road north to Indian Creek and Deerfield Road. The village of Arlington Heights takes care of Old Arlington Heights Road.

Kuhl said sidewalks are tackled a full day after snowplowing has been completed. He said no overtime workers are used.