Winter Road Maintenance

The Public Works Department performs winter maintenance on nearly 400 lane miles of local roads that form the transportation system throughout the 28 square miles of Lower Paxton Township. Winter maintenance includes plowing, the application of salt and anti-skid materials, and snow removal. In addition, the Department maintains approximately 16 miles of state routes through an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT). The winter maintenance of state routes by the Township provides for a reduced response time and a higher level of service to the motoring public.

Order of Maintenance & Timing

When winter maintenance is necessary, main routes and state roads are addressed first, residential streets second, and cul-de-sacs third.

Timing

The application of salt and anti-skid materials takes approximately 4 to 5 hours to complete Township-wide, depending upon weather conditions. Snowplowing can easily double that time, depending on several factors, such as the duration of a storm, the type of precipitation, and the time of day a storm occurs. 

Equipment Used

The Township has strategically located salt domes at Koon's Park (north side) and the Public Works Facility (south side). These facilities hold approximately 2800 tons of roadway salt. Salt is replenished after each storm. On average, the Township applies 1,500 to 2,000 tons of salt each year.

The equipment used for winter maintenance includes single axle and 10-wheel dump trucks, various sizes of medium to light-duty trucks, a grader and rubber tire loaders.

Guidelines to Follow

Plowing the roadway network is a time-consuming process which can be made easier for both plow operators and residents when the following simple guidelines are followed by residents:

  • Do not push or blow snow from driveways and sidewalks into the roadway.
  • Do not attempt to stop or flag down a truck driver while plowing.
  • Do not place basketball hoops in the right-of-way.
  • Check your mailbox periodically to ensure that the post and box are in good repair. The Township is not responsible for mailboxes unless they are physically hit by a truck or plow.
  • Please remove vehicles and trailers from the street prior to a storm event. Doing so allows the plow operator to clear the street effectively edge-to-edge and minimizes the potential for damage to vehicles.
  • Remember that operators make multiple passes to clear a street, sometimes up to 3 on each side of the road. If possible, wait until the street is completely cleared before shoveling the end of your driveway.
  • Clear a space along the curb or edge of the road before your driveway to provide an area for the snow to drop off a plow blade and not in your driveway.
  • Pile snow past your driveway to prevent that snow from being plowed back into your driveway.
  • Operators cannot direct snow as it comes off of a plow. Plow blades are fixed to dump toward the right.
  • Minimize driving as much as possible during and immediately after snow events. Reduced traffic allows roads to be cleared as quickly and efficiently as possible.
  • If it is necessary for you to drive, please do so responsibly for the conditions.