Winter Operations

Snow Plowing & De-Icing 

The Wellesley Department of Public Works is responsible for plowing and ice control for over 110 miles of Town roads and 32 Town parking lots. 

Wellesley’s DPW in cooperation with the Wellesley Police monitors winter weather and road conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with salter and snow plowing crews on call to work during the winter season. In most cases when reliable forecasts are available, the Department will have employees and equipment scheduled in advance to treat and plow roads. The department follows the best environmental practices, by carefully monitoring all deciding materials applied to the roads and sidewalks. This help preserves the Town`s watershed and natural environment.

During the first 2” to 3” of snow, the steep and busiest roads our treated to keep them clear of snow and ice. Then Roads are plowed when 3” or has fallen. Sometimes, based on the type of snow and extended weather forecasts with above freezing temperatures, the department may decide to not to plow the roads or prioritize the roads plowed. This is helpful in avoiding damage to the town roads and conserving Town resources.

During all storm events our highest priority is to provide safe passage for emergency vehicles and coordinate any required school or public building closures due to weather. At the end of most snowstorms, it will take another 3 to 4 hours for DPW plows to properly push back snow and intersections. So please be patient while having to clear your driveway.

If you hire a private contractor for snow removal, instruct the contractor not to push snow into the public way (into the street or onto the sidewalk) or across the street from the mouth of your driveway. This is a violation of Town bylaws, and the property owner could be fined up to $50 per offense. Similarly, remind your contractor not to plow snow onto fire hydrants in your neighborhood.

Overnight Street Parking  is Prohibited

We remind all motorists that Town bylaws prohibit overnight street parking. The DPW may be required to have illegally parked vehicles that interfere with our snow plowing operations towed at the owner’s expense. Also, please do not park your vehicle in the public way portion of the driveway—the last eight feet of the driveway is nearest to the road. This puts your vehicle at risk, can impede snow removal on the sidewalk and street. 

Snow Fort Warning! 

Kids love to make snow forts and igloos on top of and inside big piles of snow. It’s natural for kids to want to play in the biggest snow pile, because it makes for a bigger fort. But the biggest snow piles are often close to the road, which creates an extreme hazard for children when snowplows are in operation. Please be aware that even after the snow has stopped, snowplows may still be “pushing back” snow to widen travel lanes and may not see your child if he/she is playing in a snow pile close to the road. So have fun with snow forts and igloos, but well away from roads. 

Sidewalk Plowing

The Town plows 55 miles of sidewalks along designated school routes, commuter rail stations and commercial areas to provide safe passable travel for pedestrians. View the townwide sidewalk plow route map or the sidewalk plow mapbook. Sidewalks are plowed when 2” to 3” of snow has fallen. Sometimes, based on the type of snow and extended weather forecasts with above freezing temperatures, the department may decide to not to plow sidewalks or prioritize the sidewalks plowed. This is also helpful in avoiding damage to the town sidewalks and abutting private properties.

During any severe winter weather our highest priority is sidewalks in commercial areas and heavily traveled main roads, with at least one side of the road plowed. At the end of the snow fall, it will take another 12 to 72 hours for sidewalk plows to properly all 55 miles of sidewalk. This depends on the amount of snow, type of snow and length of a storm. 

If you hire a private contractor for snow removal, instruct the contractor not to push snow into the public way (into the street or onto the sidewalk) or across the street from the mouth of your driveway.

Sidewalk Treatments. In extreme icing conditions will treat sidewalks with salt and sand near schools, commuter rail stations, commercial areas and steep sidewalks. Unfortunately, sidewalk tractors have limited size hoppers that limit their length of sidewalk coverage. This requires additional trucks to support the refilling of the tractors. Creating a challenge on the department’s other Town wide responsibilities. The Department asks residents when is possible to assist by treating sidewalks along their property.

Commercial Areas  

All store owners must remove all planters, signs, outdoor furniture or other fixtures from sidewalk before a storm. These items make it difficult for sidewalk plow operators to safely maneuver their equipment in tight spaces. The Town will not be responsible for items left out in the sidewalk during plowing operations. While sidewalk tractor will clear snow and treat ice while passing storefronts, store owners are responsible for their entrance ways.

Mass D.O.T. Roads in Wellesley

Routes 9 and 135 (Central Street from Weston Road to the Natick town line) are maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT). If you have any concerns about State roads, contact Mass DOT (District #6) at 617-951-6200.