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LPW ready to plow and salt; drivers urged to stay off roads during winter storm

Winter Storm Warning starts 12 p.m. Thursday, ends 6 a.m. Saturday

By Josh Bootsma

LANSING, Ill. (December 21, 2022) – As forecasts continue to predict white-out conditions, several inches of snow, and extreme cold on Thursday and Friday, Lansing Public Works (LPW) is ready to plow and salt streets throughout the Village of Lansing.

“All of our trucks have plows on them. Our staff will be called in. Our salt bay has close to 900 tons of salt in it. We are ready to go. This is what we do,” said Gary Richardson, Director of Lansing Public Works.

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The salt bay at LPW, shown above nearly empty in 2019, is currently filled with 900 tons of salt. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)

Richardson was supposed to be on vacation this week, but he rescheduled in order to prepare for the storm. He has set up a cot in his office that will allow him to stay at the Public Works office overnight.

Twelve plow trucks will be criss-crossing the Village as snow falls in the coming days. Richardson says he will do his best to balance calling in employees to work while also giving them time with their families in the days leading up to Christmas.

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Lansing will have 12 plow trucks spread throughout the Village to clear and salt streets in the coming days. (Photo: Josh Bootsma, 2019)

Off the roads, on the driveway

Richardson urged Lansing residents to move their cars off the streets as soon as possible. “Put them in the driveway,” he said. “I would love it. That would really help.”

“Stay off the roads,” he continued. “It’s not a good shopping day. Put your car in the driveway. All of that will help.”

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Moving cars into driveways is helpful for LPW to plow and salt streets more effectively, Richardson said. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)

“Unless absolutely necessary, please stay off the roadways between Thursday afternoon and Saturday afternoon,” said an emergency alert message from the Village of Lansing on Wednesday afternoon. “Travel is expected to be difficult to impossible during this 48-hour period. Blizzard conditions are expected and ice-covered roads are a strong possibility due to the extreme cold eliminating the effectiveness of any road salt.”

Lansing Public Works is not responsible for plowing some of Lansing’s larger streets, including Torrence, Burnham, Glenwood-Lansing, Thornton-Lansing, 170th, and 186th. These streets fall to Cook County or the Illinois Department of Transportation. Public Works is also not responsible for clearing snow in alleys.

For up-to-date information on larger streets in the local area, visit gettingaroundillinois.com/winterconditions.

Lansing Public Works is located at 3300 171st Street. The department’s daytime phone number is 708-895-7190. For after-hours emergencies, call 708-895-7150.

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Josh Bootsma
Josh Bootsma
Josh is Managing Editor at The Lansing Journal and believes in the power and purpose of community news. He covers any local topics—from village government to theatre, from business openings to migratory birds.

1 COMMENT

  1. Is there an ordinance prohibiting commercial trucks from parking in front of their residences,interfering with snow removal on streets?

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