Snow and Ice Responsibilities

The Public Works Department is responsible for the City’s Snow and Ice Control Program on 175 center-line miles of public streets within the corporate limits of the City of Crystal Lake. As part of a maintenance agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the City snowplows U.S. Route 14 between Crystal Lake Avenue and Main Street, and Illinois Route 176 between Walkup Avenue and Erick Street.

The City is not responsible for the snowplowing and salting of privately-owned streets or roadways under the jurisdiction of McHenry County Division of Transportation (i.e. Walkup Avenue, Ackman Road, Randall Road, Virginia Road, or Pyott Road).

In heavy snowstorms, crews will make two passes down each street and a single pass into cul-de-sacs to make streets and cul-de-sacs accessible. Full-width plowing operations, from curb to curb, will be completed after the snow event has diminished. 

Five Winter Weather Tips

1. Snow should be cleared from fire hydrants to assist the Fire Rescue Department.
2. Pushing or blowing of snow into City streets or right-of-ways is prohibited.
3. Residents are asked not to park on City streets at night. Parking is prohibited from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM.
4. Snow should be shoveled to the right-hand side of the driveway (as viewed from the house) to help reduce the amount of snow pushed back into driveways
5. Fringe snow pushed back into driveways cannot be avoided, as all streets must be snowplowed from curb to curb to allow for proper drainage and mailbox access.