Winter Season

Winter Season Snow and Ice Control Information

The Department of Public Works is responsible for winter season snow and ice control operations for approximately 130 center line miles of Town maintained roads and certain municipal parking areas and sidewalks.  The Beach and Recreation Department assists the Department of Public Works regularly and when conditions warrant, private contractors provide on-call snow plowing services to the Town.

The intent of snow and ice control operations conducted by the Department of Public Works is to maintain an appropriate winter season level of service for Town roads and municipal parking areas and sidewalks both during and after a storm event to provide for the safety and mobility of the traveling public, school buses and emergency responders.

During the clean-up phase of the Towns snow and ice control operations after the end of a storm event, the Department of Public Works will remove snow from Town roads for the full width of the road or the curb to curb width.  

Curb to curb snow removal is required for the safety of the traveling public, to clear drainage inlet structures so as to prevent flooding and icing conditions, to provide access to mailboxes and fire hydrants and to clear the road in anticipation of future storms.  Depending on the severity of a storm event and/or the timing of multiple events, several passes of a snow plow may be required to achieve the curb to curb removal of snow and the clean-up phase of operations may occur hours or even a day or more after the end of a storm event.  

When a storm event produces a significant snow depth, or a significant depth results from the accumulation of snow from multiple storms, the Department of Public Works will clear snow from the shoulder areas within cul-de-sacs and at intersections to provide room for plowed snow from future storms and to provide un-obstructed sight distance at intersections.

Questions regarding the Towns winter season snow and ice control operations or policies should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 203-245-5611.

State Maintained Highways

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for snow and ice control operations on the following State maintained highways within the Town:

  • Boston Post Road (U.S. Route One)
  • Hammonasset Connector, Duck Hole Road and Horsepond Road (Special Service Road 450)
  • Durham Road (State Route 79)
  • Old Toll Road (State Route 80)

Questions regarding winter season snow and ice control operations on State maintained highways within the Town should be directed to the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation highway maintenance garage in Guilford at 203-453-2720.

Winter Season Parking Restrictions

Residents are reminded that in accordance with Section 12-27 of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Madison, between November 1 and April 1 of each year, there shall be no on-street parking of any vehicle on any roadway, street or highway within the Town between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m.

In addition, there shall be no on-street parking of any vehicle on any roadway, street or highway when snow removal or plowing operations are being conducted on that roadway, street or highway by or under the auspices of the Town.

The Department of Public Works asks that residents and property owners cooperate with winter season parking restrictions to facilitate the Towns snow and ice control operations.

Maintaining Sidewalks

Residents and property owners are also reminded that in accordance with Section 19-1 of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Madison, the property owners of the Town shall maintain in reasonable repair and shall keep free from snow and ice any sidewalk situated upon or adjoining their property and abutting upon a public highway.  A period of twenty-four (24) hours shall be deemed a reasonable time for the removal of snow and ice following termination of the weather conditions creating snow and ice.

The Department of Public Works asks that residents and property owners remove snow and ice from sidewalks adjoining their property as soon as is practicable after a storm event to provide a safe walking surface for the general public.

Snow Accumulation at Driveways, Mailboxes and Fire Hydrants

Snow plowing operations create a windrow of snow that comes off the end of a plow.  This windrowing effect unavoidably places snow in the ends of driveways.  Residents and property owners may want to consider waiting to remove snow from the last 5-10 feet of a driveway if possible until the Town has removed the majority of the snow depth from the width of the road.  

Residents and property owners may also want to consider removing snow from the road shoulder area on the left side of a driveway as you face the street and shoveling, throwing or plowing snow to the shoulder area on the right side of a driveway to provide room for snow as the plow approaches a driveway and reduce the amount of the snow windrow accumulation in the end of a driveway.  

The curb to curb removal of snow should provide access to mailboxes if they have been properly located in accordance with U.S. Postal Service regulations.  See Guidance for the Installation of Mailboxes.  Residents and property owners are asked to clear snow from mailboxes if access is required before the clean-up phase of operations has been completed.

Residents and property owners are asked to provide assistance to the Town by voluntarily clearing snow from and providing access to fire hydrants.  The Towns Fire Departments depend on access to hydrants to protect public safety and appreciate the assistance of residents and property owners.

Clearing Snow within Cul-de-sacs

Plowing snow in cul-de-sacs is difficult for several reasons including the small radius of the cul-de-sac outer pavement edge, the large pavement area to be plowed within the cul-de-sac and the resulting amount of snow and the limited shoulder area available for storage of the snow.  The latter difficulty is made worse when there are several driveway openings within a cul-de-sac.

Plowing or Throwing Snow into Town Roads

Residents, property owners and their private contractors are asked to not shovel, throw or plow snow into Town roads as doing so may create a hazardous condition for motorists.

Portable Basketball Hoops within Town Roads

Residents and property owners are reminded that portable basketball hoops are not allowed to be placed within the travel way and shoulder areas of Town roads.  Residents and property owners are asked to remove portable basketball hoops from the travel way and shoulder areas of Town roads to facilitate snow removal operations.

The Department of Public Works will remove portable basketball hoops from the Town road right-of-way and will not be responsible for damage that may occur to them.

Sand for Public Use
The Department of Public Works maintains a small stockpile of sand and salt mixture outside of the fenced area at the Town Highway Garage located at 16 Forth Path Road.  This sand and salt mixture is provided for use by Town residents and property owners in treating their driveways and sidewalks.

Please limit the quantity you take so that material will be available for all residents and property owners.

Curbing and Driveway Apron Damage
Snow plowing will by the nature of the operations, cause damage to some curbing and driveway aprons.  The Department of Public Works inspects Town roads during spring clean-up operations and repairs winter season driveway apron and curbing damage.  Residents and property owners may report driveway apron and curbing damage to the Department of Public Works at 203-245-5611.

Mailbox Damage Policy
The Town of Madison will reimburse residents and property owners for the repair or replacement of mailboxes that may be damaged as a result of direct contact with a Town or Town contracted snow plow.  Usually a paint mark or tire tracks supply evidence that direct contact with a snow plow has occurred.  

The Town will not reimburse residents and property owners for damage to mailboxes that may occur due to the force of snow pushed by a snow plow from the street only and/or mailboxes that have been improperly installed or maintained.

The maximum amount of reimbursement for the repair or replacement of each mail box that may be so damaged is set by the Department of Public Works at the beginning of each winter season based on current average costs to purchase and install a standard U.S. Postal Service mailbox, four (4) inch square wood post and attachment hardware.

Should a mailbox be so damaged, a completed Mailbox Damage Claim Form should be submitted to the Department of Public Works office.  The claim form can be obtained at the Department of Public Works office email:  twohillb@madisonct.org

Department staff will investigate each claim and respond in writing to each resident or property owner.  The process to investigate each claim and make reimbursement payment typically takes three weeks.