Winter Damaged Mailbox & Fence Policy
The City of Manchester is divided into 30 plow routes, each assigned at least one piece of equipment. Each plow route contains primary and secondary routes managed by appropriately equipped vehicles. Primary streets are given priority over secondary streets.Primary streets are those leading into or out of the City, industrial or commercial areas, routes that lead to hospitals, airport, malls, schools and provide cross-town movements.
Secondary streets are those that serve residential areas of the City.
During winter months, the City enforces overnight parking restrictions to ensure at least one side of the road will be clear of vehicles overnight to give our crews the opportunity to clear snow banks needed.
Residents should be aware of the following regarding snow removal:
- Odd-even parking restrictions run all winter, regardless of the weather.
- Snow Emergencies will be called on most major snowstorms, but will also be called when the Department requires the streets to be clear of vehicles overnight.
- Property owners are responsible for the clearing of snow in sidewalks in front of their properties. The City will clear some sidewalks, starting with those leading to schools, but streets take priority over sidewalks.
- Vehicles parked in violation of a Snow Emergency will be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.
- It is illegal for property owners to deposit snow into the City’s right of way.
- The City will not be responsible for damage to private property in the right of way (fences, planters, etc.).
- Properly placed mailboxes damaged by snow plows will be repaired or replaced by a standard mailbox by the Department.
OVERNIGHT WINTER PARKING
PRESS RELEASE
Public Winter Information Notice
11/14/’11
The City of Manchester’s overnight winter on street odd/even parking ordinance will go into effect at 1:00 AM on December 1st 2011.
Where parking is normally allowed on a street, the Ordinance permits vehicles to be parked only on the odd numbered side of a street on odd numbered calendar days, and only on the even numbered side of a street on even numbered calendar days beginning after 1:00 AM and until 6:00 AM in the morning. This means that when you park your car in the evening of an odd numbered day, it should be parked on the even side of the street because it will be an even day as of 1:00 AM. If parking is presently allowed on only one side of the street during the day, then parking will be permitted on that side of the street every night. Those in violation of this Ordinance, will be subject to a $25.00 fine. The exception is a “Pilot Program Area” bounded by Canal Street on the west, Elm Street on the east, Pleasant Street on the south and Mechanic Street on the north.
Upon declaration of a Snow Emergency, any vehicle parked on the streets will be towed and impounded. Look for the blinking strobe lights placed at various intersections throughout the City, listen to local radio or TV stations, or call the Highway Department (624-6444) with any questions. Vehicles which are so impounded, will be stored at the City’s Vehicle Impoundment Area, located in Derryfield Park off of Bridge Street. In order to recover an impounded vehicle, the owner will be required to present proof of ownership and to make a payment of $110.00 in cash, certified check or money order payable to the City of Manchester. This must be done within 24 hours of the time when the vehicle was towed. Vehicles not recovered within 24 hours, will be subject to additional towing and storage charges.
Snow Emergency parking is available at the Victory Parking Garage at 25 Vine Street
between 10PM and 6AM. Vehicles entering before 10PM or leaving after 6AM, WILL be subject to parking fees of $.75 per hour. The Pearl Street parking lot on Orange Street
between Pearl and Chestnut is also available between 6PM and 7AM. Unauthorized vehicles in the lot outside of these times WILL be subject to parking tickets.
Go to http://www.manchesternh.gov/snow to sign up for automatic e-mail or text notifications of Snow Emergencies.
SNOW EMERGENCIES
All vehicles must be removed immediately from City streets upon the declaration of a Snow Emergency by the Public Works Director or his authorized agent. Snow emergencies are sent out to the news media.
Throughout the city there are flashing white Snow Emergency Beacons at major intersections alerting drivers of the snow emergency in place (see picture, left).
Please listen to local radio or TV stations, or call the Highway Department (624-6444) should you have any questions.
Go to the Snow Emergency Email Notification Form to subscribe to automatic email notifications of Snow Emergencies. Subscribers can also be alerted by way of Nixle or Twitter.
Snow Removal and Ice Control policy
GENERAL
Winter weather in Manchester is difficult to predict. There are many variables affecting winter operations such as type of precipitation, air and pavement temperature, traffic, wind, time of day and day of week. Winter operations is considered an art, not a science. The City of Manchester, Public Works Department's snow removal and ice control policy has been based for many years on the goal of obtaining bare and dry pavements at the earliest practical time following cessation of a storm.
It is impossible to provide bare pavement during a winter storm and the Public Works Department does not attempt to do so. Judgment based on experience is essential in conducting and timing remedial work to overcome ice and snow hazards. Whereas each storm situation varies, it is important to emphasize that this policy be used as a guideline to assist the Department in making well informed, judgmental decisions in the exercise of the snow removal and ice control responsibilities.
The Public Works Director recognizes that a rigid application of this policy is impossible given the varying conditions that exist in each storm. No single policy could be prepared that would dictate a set procedure for all types of weather events. Weather Services and weather radar are utilized in an effort to prepare for the onset of a weather event. At various locations within the City's 400 miles of roadways depths of snow may vary.
Daily traffic volume and seasonal traffic are factors in determining the level of winter maintenance service with road grade being an important factor. The Emergency Snow Routes and heavily traveled streets are maintained in such a manner that bare pavement is produced as soon as practical after termination of a storm.
It is impractical to develop specific rules on winter maintenance operations due to the numerous variables involved in various winter storms. The judgment of the Public Works Director, his deputy or the Chief of Highway Operations governs the type, quantities and application schedule of materials used to control snow and ice. It is the intent of the Public Works Department to use the minimum deicing or anti-icing material needed to restore safe travel conditions as soon as practical following termination of winter storms.
Salting and sanding units are usually equipped with calibrated mechanical spreaders that accurately control the application rates of materials. Employees are instructed in the proper dispensing of the necessary quantity at the appropriate time.
City streets are divided into two basic road types:
Primary Streets are streets which lead into and out of the City, industrial and commercial areas, routes which lead to the Airport, hospitals, malls, schools and provide crosstown movements.
Secondary Streets are streets which serve the residential areas of the City.
These designations have been determined primarily by traffic volume but have been modified to include highway grade, truck volume, accessibility to hospitals and
emergency services, special events, second and/or third shifts at major industrial complexes and major commercial traffic generators.
Towing of vehicles is an operation which involves interdepartmental cooperation between Police and the Department of Public Works. When snowstorms of plowable depths are forecast, snow emergencies are declared which prohibit parking on City streets. Any vehicle, which impedes plowing operations, is removed from the street and towed to a central car impoundment area.
Whereas Manchester is a relatively large urban area encompassing some 33.9 square miles there are numerous sidewalks which must be cleared of snow and treated for ice. The City has a small fleet of 8 sidewalk tractors which address some 137 miles of City sidewalks. Sidewalk plowing is usually performed by the same personnel that plows the streets, so there can be a delay to removing snow from the City's sidewalks until the streets are made safe for travel.
Priorities are the Central Business District, school routes, bridges and other major arteries and secondary roads. These routes are plowed and sanded as soon as possible after the termination of the storm. The area adjacent to City Hall, stairs and crosswalks in the Downtown Area are maintained by utilizing survey personnel during and after the storm. Sidewalk maintenance must continue during melting and freezing cycles which can cause icy conditions.
Snow removal is an integral part of the City's snow removal and ice control policy. Snow, when it falls in excess of 4 inches in a single storm or accumulates as a result of several smaller storms, is removed from the Central Business District, the Commercial Street area and areas around the Civic Arena. When, and as time permits, when large amounts of snow accumulate in the center of the City's 100 cul-de-sacs, snow is removed and transported to the snow dump area.
Winter Damaged Mailbox & Fence Policy
Mailboxes
- Mailboxes, damaged by a City plow, will be reported to the Dispatcher.
The dispatcher will record the date, time and location of the incident.
- A letter will be sent to the property owner, notifying them of our policy.
Ø Mailboxes and posts will be replaced with a standard mailbox/post
or one that is readily available locally, within reason.
Special order and custom made mailboxes will be replaced
with a standard mailbox.
- As time permits, damaged mailboxes will be replaced with a
temporary mailbox until such time as a permanent replacement can
be installed.
Fences and other Structures
- Fences and other structures, damaged by a City plow, will be reported
to the Dispatcher, who will record the date, time and location of the incident.
- A letter will be sent to the property owner notifying them of our policy.
- The City’s Risk Management personnel will be notified of these incidents as
soon as possible. They will review the claim and make a determination as to
the necessary repair.
Note: All necessary permits for the erection of the above structures must be in effect
by the property owner and the structure must be constructed in accordance with said
permit, otherwise the damage will be the responsibility of the property owner.