Snow Removal Best Practices

The Scoop on Snow Removal!

  1.  If possible, wait until the street is plowed before shoveling the end of your driveway. Most roads are pushed back several times and take 3 to 4 hours before the plow trucks have completed their routes.
  2.  When plowing or snow blowing your driveway, please do not move the snow into or across the road or into the sidewalk. It is against Town bylaws to do so—it creates hazardous conditions for drivers and walkers and increases the cost of snow plowing.
  3.  If the weather is calling for snow to turn to freezing rain, try to wait and shovel your driveway after the freezing rain stops. This will help prevent your driveway from icing.
  4. Plow drivers work long, often dark hours during a storm, and it is difficult to determine the exact center of the road in these conditions. Despite our best efforts, one side of the road may end up with more snow than the other side.
  5.  It is not uncommon to see a salting truck or snowplow go by your house many times during a storm, particularly on routes that lead to outlying areas.  The storm will dictate how many times we sand or plow a street.
  6. When driving during a storm, do not pass a plow or sander and maintain a safe distance.
  7. If possible, please shovel the fire hydrant near your home as well as any storm drain grates after the storm. If rain follows the snow, street flooding and ice can quickly become a problem. 
  8.  Do not plant trees or shrubs, or place rocks close to the edge of the road. This makes them subject to accidental damage by the sanders and snowplows.
  9.  To ensure regular mail delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, clear snow around the mailbox.  Mailboxes placed in the right-of-way are placed at the owner’s risk.   Each mailbox installation should be sufficiently solid to withstand snow-clearing efforts.
  10.  To help protect your lawn and better guide street and sidewalk plow operators please place reflective snow stakes along the edges of your landscape.  
  11. Winter sand/salt is available for residents free of charge at the RDF.

If you have any questions or concerns for the Highway Division, please call 781-235-7600, ext. 3325 Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. or email  dpw@wellesleyma.gov.

 If you have an emergency after regular business hours, please call 781-235-7600, ext. 3322.