Snow and ice removal

To effectively restore or maintain road surfaces, crews may use any or all of the three techniques listed below.

Anti-icing

Anti-icing is the practice of pre-treating roads and bridge decks prior to any winter snow, ice or frost event. The purpose is to prevent the initial bond of snow and ice to the surface. By preventing the initial bond, less deicing material is required. The anti-icing process typically occurs one to three days prior to projected storm events for selected roads and routinely for bridges.

Common mixtures used include potassium acetate (KA) and salt brine (NaCl and water).

Pre-wetting

Pre-wetting, or adding liquids to deicers right before applying to the road surface, is an increasing common activity for the county’s snow and ice removal crews. A slushy, wet material gets applied to the road. This results in faster and more effective ice melting, because it keeps the materials on the road instead of "bounce and scattering."

Deicing

Deicing is the process used in the midst of active snowfall or immediately after a snow fall. Hennepin County most commonly uses rock salt (NaCl) for deicing. This is effective down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Other materials, including salt mixed with sand, may be used depending on weather conditions.

Before winter weather season, Hennepin County prepares its drivers. New drivers attend intensive training and all staff gets refresher training. Crews also do dry-runs in the fall to check for potential obstacles and issues.

Early morning plowing and deicing

The goal is to make all travel lanes passable before the morning commute.

• There are 64 plow routes, coming out of five stations across the county. The stations are Medina, Bloomington, Minnetonka, Orono and Osseo.
• The first shift may start as early as 2 a.m. This allows for crews to plow before traffic gets heavy. They may also apply anti-icing chemicals if conditions allow.
• Routes take approximately four and a half hours to complete. But that doesn't mean that you'll only see plows out until 6:30 a.m. or never see them off their routes. For example, they may pull off the road when traffic is too heavy for them to effectively plow and apply materials. Don't worry. They will be out there soon again.

Keep in mind that traffic volume affects snow plowing operations. When traffic volume is high and congestion exists, it can take longer for the materials to work and for plows to get to where they need to get.

Post storm clean up

Depending on how much snow falls, crews may need to do post storm clean up. Post storm clean up begins on the first regularly scheduled shift following the completion of emergency snow and ice control operations.

Clean up includes:

• Additional deicing and removing compacted snow and ice from the pavement
• Using wings on trucks to create additional space for snow storage on roadsides
• Removing snow from bridge sidewalks and approaches, as well as from obstacles (e.g. guardrails and bollards)

Hennepin County has been steadily decreasing the amount of salt it uses during snow and ice removal. This is the result of improvements in technology, new equipment acquired and changes in techniques. We follow a number of a best manage practices for minimizing effects to the environment while maintaining safe road conditions for the travelling public.

Learn more about the county's efforts to reduce salt use below.

Working for clean and healthy waters now (PDF)

We do our part to clear the roads, but we need you to do your part, too.

Be cautious when driving in winter weather.

Plan ahead for snow days

Give yourself extra time.

Know the road

When weather is good, learn where the road curves, how many turn lanes there are and other qualities of the road.

Be patient

Slow down and give plows room to work.

Never use cruise control or get distracted in your driving

Keep your eyes on the road, as well as hands and feet ready to respond.

Remember, just because a road is plowed, it doesn’t mean it’s okay to speed up. The de-icing materials crews are spreading as they plow need time to do their work.

Mailbox damage is an unfortunate consequence of snowplowing.

Mailboxes and supports damaged during snow removal and maintenance activities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Only those mailboxes and supports that were properly located and installed in accordance with United States Postal Service (USPS), local, and state department standards, and were damaged by actual contact with county equipment, will be repaired at the county’s expense.  

Your responsibilities

• All mailboxes placed within the road right-of-way are placed there at the owner’s risk.
• It is the property owner’s responsibility to be current on USPS and local jurisdiction mailbox policies.  
• Do not install newspaper delivery boxes, advertisement delivery boxes, nameplates, address plates, etc., underneath the mailbox, whether attached to the mailbox support or on a separate post. The area underneath the mailbox must remain free of obstructions to allow the unhindered passage of the snowplow wing blade. Obstacles interfering with the wing blade forces the plow to swerve, often into the oncoming lane, creating an unsafe situation for motorists and plow operators.
• It is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain winter access for the USPS delivery drivers.  

If you need a new mailbox

• Hennepin County will not repair or replace mailboxes or supports that were not damaged by county snowplows.
• Hennepin County will not repair or replace mailboxes that were not properly maintained by the owner, such as mailboxes with rotted or already-damaged posts.
• Mailboxes replaced due to county snowplow contact will be county-issued and county-installed swing-away type.
• The new mailbox and supports installed by the county, or any maintenance thereof, become and remain the property of the owner upon completion of the installation or repair.  Maintenance of mailbox and supports becomes the responsibility of the owner and must conform to USPS requirements.

To report a damaged mailbox, call 612-596-0299 or use the county’s report a problem system.