Road Treatment and Snow Removal

In the winter and early spring one of the most important tasks the Highway Department faces is snow removal. Snow removal and other winter maintenance are under the supervision of the Highway Superintendent.

Snow

The Town's current policy is not to begin plowing until the snow has accumulated at least 2 inches. However, the Highway Superintendent can elect to not remove snow at greater or lesser accumulations based on weather reports. 

The Town is divided up into 20 major plow routes with 6 major treatment routes. The realities of personnel and equipment inventories require the Town to prioritize its snow removal procedures.
Priorities:

• School bus routes are given priority during school days
• Public parking areas at the rear of the Town Offices
• Transfer Station/Recycle Center
• Fire Hydrants
• Sidewalks used by children while school is in session

The Town does not provide snow removal service to some areas due to budgetary constraints including

• Town roads classified as Class VI roads and beyond the Urban Compact boundary
• Private roads
• School district sidewalks and parking areas (school districts responsibility)
  • Please note: due to limited manpower/equipment a limited number of sidewalks are plowed

Salt

As temperatures drop, salt can lose nearly all of its effectiveness. Be careful when driving in temperatures below 25 degrees. Freezing rain can also limit the effectiveness of road salt because it will be washed off the road. This washing effect is also why some areas of town are designated low salt use to protect the Town's water supply.

Salt and sand is free for Exeter residents. Salt and sand (mixed) is located at the DPW Complex, 13 Newfields Rd in the small shed to the left as you drive in. Residents are welcome to a 5 gallon pail of salt and sand at a time. Please bring your own shovel!

Road Salt Reduction Program

To protect New Hampshire waters from increased chloride concentrations, the NHDES Green SnowPro Program offers snow and ice management professionals training and certification in state of the art salt reduction practices that prioritize public safety while mitigating salt usage. Exeter's winter maintenance staff has received Green SnowPro certification and continues with annual training.

This program can also benefit private contractors that provide winter maintenance services. In return for their efforts, commercial salt applicators certified by NHDES Green SnowPro under RSA 489-C, and property owners or managers who hire them, are granted liability protection against damages arising from snow and ice conditions under RSA 508:22.

More information about the NHDES Road Salt Reduction program can be found here.

Sidewalks

Sidewalk snow clearance will not begin until all other snow removal operations are manned and in progress. If there is insufficient personnel available to conduct sidewalk snow removal; the streets and roads shall take priority.

• Sidewalks outside the Town center shall be cleared as soon as possible during and after the storm
• Sidewalks leading to the schools and town center are a priority, similar to the roads being school priority routes
• Sidewalks will be treated with sand as quickly as possible after the storm
• Arterial sidewalks listed below are to be cleared of snow and sanded as described above

These secondary sidewalks will be plowed and sanded only after roads and arterial sidewalks are cleared:

Share the road!

It is important to remember to not go out during a snowstorm if possible. Here are some tips to share the road with snow plows:

1. Give snowplows room to work; don’t tailgate or try to pass
2. Stay at least 4 car lengths back from snowplows and equipment 
3. Plowed snow can create a cloud that can blind drivers following too close 
4. Spreaders on trucks can throw salt, sand or cinders that can damage close-following vehicles 
5. Drive even more slowly in construction zones, even though some are inactive in winter weather  
6. Always have your headlights on, plenty of fuel and wiper fluid and tires with ample tread
7. Remember that a snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you.