Streets Section
Thank you for visiting the Lake Forest Streets
Section. The Streets Section is located in the
Municipal Services Building. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.
and can be reached at 847-615-4230.
The mission of the Streets Section is to provide the
residents of Lake Forest with quality road maintenance and
repair, street sweeping, litter control, snow and ice
control, functional traffic signals, and street lighting,
all of which will result in the safe movement of pedestrian
and vehicular traffic. The Streets Section is comprised of
one Supervisor, seven Maintenance Workers, and three Seasonal employees.
 Sweeper Operations:
The Streets Section Sweeper Program operates from
April through Thanksgiving.
Sweeper Operations - Fall Leaf Collection:
Please bag your leaves and do not deposit them into the street. For proper storm water drainage to occur, inlets must be kept clear of
leaves and/or debris.
Litter Program:
Train stations: Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific
platforms and litter containers are cleaned and emptied
weekly. Central Business District litter containers are emptied
Monday through Friday. Main arterial streets are
checked for litter biweekly.
Pavement/Sidewalk/Curb Maintenance:
The Streets Section performs general maintenance repairs. To report a pothole, please call
847-615-4230.
The Engineering Department coordinates the annual pavement
resurfacing, sidewalk and curb programs. Please call 847-615-4329 for
issues pertaining to these programs.
Traffic Signals:
The Streets Section provides coordination and supervision of
contractual services for the installation, repair, maintenance, and Opticom systems of nine City-owned traffic control intersections.
Traffic Signage:
The Streets Section is responsible for fabrication, installation,
maintenance and repair of 4,000 City street and regulatory signs.
Lighting System:
The Streets Section is responsible for the maintenance and repair of
all City lights.
Snow Operations - Streets:
The Streets Section has a proactive approach to snow
fighting operations through the effective use of manpower,
equipment, chemicals and technology.
Ice Control: The City's ice control
operations will commence when hazardous conditions begin to
develop. The objective of The City's ice control operation is to
respond to icing conditions and slick roadways with
equipment and personnel sufficient to adequately control
conditions within 30 minutes during normal working hours and
within 60 minutes after normal working hours.
Snow Plowing: The City's snow plowing
operation will commence when the accumulation of snow on
streets reaches two inches or as weather conditions warrant. All City
streets are plowed according to a master plan which assigns
first priority to major arterials. The eleven designated snow routes and three cul-de-sac
routes cover 240 lane miles of street. The goal is to
remove snow from all streets within six hours after the
conclusion of a snowfall. Should snow accumulate in
excess of three inches, the length of time to remove the
snow from the streets may increase dependent upon the
intensity and duration of the storm.
Advantages of Pre-Wetted
Salt:
- Salt must find moisture before it can begin to work. To increase effectiveness of salt, all Streets Section
trucks carry liquid that is mixed with the salt prior to
pavement application.
- Wet salt has an oatmeal-type composition that sticks
to the pavement better. This process decreases the
amount of salt, which when in a dry state, would bounce
onto the parkway and impact turf and shrubbery. Greater amounts of salt left on the pavement increases the
salt's effectiveness in fighting now and ice
precipitation.
- Since the brine is already working and diluting as it
hits the surface, it will dry much more rapidly, returning
the roadway to normal winter driving conditions sooner.
Products used:
- Salt brine (23.3% solution).
- "Special Mix" - Salt brine - 80%, Geo Melt 55 (beet
by-product) - 10% and Calcium chloride -10%.
- Calcium chloride (32% solution).
Mailbox Repair from Snow Plow Damage:
If it is determined that a City snowplow caused damage
to a properly placed and secure mailbox, and it is
called into the Public Works Department at 847-615-4227
within 48 hours of damage, we will:
- Repair the damage or
- Replace the post with a standard 4x4 treated pole or
- Replace the box with a standard issued Federal
regulation black box or
- Reimburse the resident up to $50.00 toward the
purchase and installation of a replacement if a receipt is
submitted.
The City is not responsible for improperly placed or
insecure installations. For more information on
proper placement of mailboxes, contact 847-615-4227.
Snow Plowing - Parking Lots:
City parking lot plowing is coordinated through the Parks
Section 847-615-4320. The objective is to plow and
consolidate snow in parking lots prior to 7:00 a.m., Monday
- Friday; 8:00 a.m. Saturday; and 10:00 a.m. Sunday. Snow that has been pushed into parking areas shall be
removed whenever possible within 48 hours
after the conclusion of the snowfall event.
Snow Plowing - Sidewalks:
Sidewalk plowing operations are coordinated through
the Sanitation Section 847-615-4285. Plowing will
commence when the accumulation of snow has reached four
inches. The objective is to plow sidewalks within a
quarter mile radius of schools and the Central Business
District by 7:00 a.m., Monday - Friday. Main arterial
and residential sidewalks will be completed within 48 hours
of the conclusion of a snow event. Snow that is
obstructing sidewalk corners will be cleared within 48 hours
after the conclusion of a snow event. |
