Snow On The Way: Winter Weather Advisory, Parking Ban In Effect

JOLIET, IL -- The city of Joliet and its surrounding area was under a winter weather advisory Friday, with meteorologists expecting more than 3 inches of total snow accumulation.

The snowfall was expected to end around midnight, officials said.

"Snow plow trucks will be working through the night and Saturday morning to clear all streets in the city," said a community alert from city of Joliet officials. "Please be aware that the 'no street parking' (rule) will be in effect for Friday night and Saturday morning."

Roads should be clear by noon on Saturday, the notice said.

Residents should make note of the no parking ban in effect when snow has accumulated:

All vehicles must be moved off of public streets until the city of Joliet’s snow plow trucks have had a chance to plow the snow on the street. Once the snow plow trucks have cleared the street by your home or business, you may move your vehicle back to the street. Some older neighborhoods in Joliet do not have adequate off-street parking options.

In those areas, residents are encouraged to seek permission from neighbors who have off-street parking spaces and other parking options such as commercial or church parking lots that will allow streets to be clear of vehicles for all snow clearing efforts to be effective. The Joliet Police Department will have the option of issuing a parking ticket to the owner of a vehicle left on a City Street during a snow event as well as having the option of having the vehicle towed, or both. All towing and storage costs will be the responsibility of the vehicle owner.

Street plowing operations are performed in the following order:

1. Major Arterials, hospital routes, hills, and the bridges
2. Subdivision mains and collector streets
3. All remaining subdivision streets
4. Cul-de-sacs and dead ends

* City crews do NOT plow alleys

When plowing is required, snow “berms” are created across driveways, officials said, because plow operators do not have control over the wind-row of snow coming off the edge of the blade.

Workers from the city's Roadways Division do their best to keep the problem at a minimum.

"The residents of Joliet need to be patient and recognize that during the winter months there will be some inconvenience," officials said.

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