About the Snow Management Plan
Upper Merion Township recognizes the importance of snow removal, not only to residents but to everyone who needs to travel to or through our community. The township utilizes a snow management plan to safely clear all public roads within the township quickly and efficiently. Based on traffic flow, roads are divided into primary (main), secondary (collector and through), and tertiary (dead-end and cul-de-sac) roads. During snow storms, the Public Works Department plows 376 streets, consisting of 83 miles of township roads, and 37 miles of state roads.
Plowing
Plowing will begin when it is determined that at least two inches of snow can be measured on the road. During a declared snow emergency, parking is prohibited on all roads designated as Snow Emergency Routes. The first priority is to clear all primary roads, including bus routes. This work generally takes six to eight hours after snow stops falling. Crews begin plowing secondary roads after clearing and opening all primary roads. These collector and through roads are usually cleared within 12-16 hours after snow stops falling. Crews then move on to side roads, dead-ends, and cul-de-sacs. Please be patient with snow removal.
View a list of snow emergency routes.
Shoveling Guidelines
A 2-foot wide path of sidewalk must be cleared by the abutting property owner within 24 hours after the end of the snow emergency. (See Ordinance Code: Chapter 137.2 and Chapter 137.5) If more than 12 inches of snow falls, the time limit is extended to 48 hours.
Do not clear sidewalks until plowing equipment has passed, or your hard work may be for nothing. Remember to shovel to the right of your driveway facing the road, as plows clear from the left. This helps to reduce the amount of snow pushed back into your driveway during plowing.
Throwing, shoveling, or plowing snow from sidewalks or driveways into the street is strictly prohibited by the Township’s Ordinance Code: Chapter 137.1.
Adopt a Hydrant – Save a Life
The Fire & Rescue Services Division reminds all residents to clear snow from around fire hydrants. Doing so can save precious time when firefighters need additional water to fight a fire. Citizens should clear a 3-foot wide path from the street to the fire hydrant, and a 3-foot circle around the fire hydrant to provide easy access by firefighters.
Snow Emergencies
When a snow emergency has been declared, the township activates its Snow Operations Center at the Public Works yard. The center is staffed by employees who are in contact with all snow removal crews.
The township now provides snow removal progress information in the form of an interactive map. The updates of the plowing progress will only begin after the snow stops falling and the crews are in final clean-up mode. The status will be updated every 15 minutes and will continue until the cleanup is completed.
Click the image below to access the snow removal status map.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the snow storm response maps, contact the township’s Public Works Department at 610-265-2606.
If you have an emergency, please dial 911.