Busy Weekend Ahead: Engineering Snow Crews Clear City’s Bike Paths, Sidewalks and Bus Stop Pads 

City of Madison Engineering Division operations crews are working 12-hour shifts to keep up with the snow storm to support the Streets Division with street plowing, clear the City’s four main bike path routes, sidewalks and hundreds of bus stop pads. 

Commuting conditions will not be ideal until late Jan. 13, 2024 and early Jan. 14, 2024.

The Engineering Division focuses on mechanical snow removal as its regular approach to bike paths, sidewalks and bus pads.
 

Street Clearing Strategy

Seven City of Madison Engineering Division crew members will help plow streets tonight, Jan. 12, 2024, and tomorrow, Jan. 13, 2024. While the Streets Division leads overall general plowing for the City, Engineering crews will support with side street clearing, secondary streets and anything else Streets Division needs support with.

Bike Path, Sidewalks, Bus Stop Pad Clearing Strategy

Engineering crews will clear bike paths, sidewalks and bus stop pad routes until 7:30 p.m., tonight (Jan. 12, 2024). Crews will then take a short break to keep primary operators on the routes, and then begin tomorrow morning (Jan. 13, 2024) for a 12-hour shift. This strategy for bike paths, sidewalks and bus stop pads will repeat for Jan. 14, 2024. The Engineering Division clears four main bike path routes: Cannonball, Southwest and portions of Blackhawk Trail. Engineering has five primary bike path operators and nearly 20 operators clearing hundreds of bus stop pads and sidewalks.
 

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 Strategy

After the snow is expected to taper off, blowing snow will continue to challenge snow crews. Engineering crews expect the blowing conditions to continue to be not ideal for commuting, however, the Engineering snow crews will continue to focus on clearing bike paths, sidewalks and bus stop pads for use.


Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 Strategy

On Jan. 14, 2024, Engineering crews will work on clearing bike path connector routes, wind drifts and plow backs. The goal is to have bike paths, sidewalks and bus pad routes in better condition for bike, bus and general commuting.

Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 Strategy
Extreme cold will move in early next week, however, our Engineering crews will review the paths, maintain as needed with the standard approach. Engineering will send crews out for additional cleanups on Jan. 15, 2024 depending on snow totals and drifting snow.
 

Photos from Engineering Snow Crews clearing the Cannonball and Southwest Bike Paths this afternoon, Jan. 12, 2024.

Stay up to date with all things winter storm on the City of Madison Streets Division website.