SNOW ANNOUNCEMENT (1/4/18):
The National Weather Service is predicting a rapidly intensifying ocean storm that will produce significant snowfall and strong winds through Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 9 pm on Wednesday to 7 pm on Thursday. Heavy, blowing snowfall is predicted in the most recent models, with 4-6" of snow accumulation in some areas. Due to the pending storm, all personnel will be dedicated to snow removal and ice control operations. As such, the DPW yard will be closed on Thursday, January 4th. The yard is scheduled to re-open at 10:00 am on Friday, January, 5th, pending the weather situation. Information regarding the closure of the DPW Yard, along with Municipal Offices, will be posted on the website. Information regarding changes in trash collection schedules will also be posted as it becomes available.
Crews are currently preparing our equipment to work the long hours clearing snow from our roadways. Snow emergency routes will be salted as needed in an effort to allow access by emergency vehicles. Crews will switch to plowing operations once the accumulated snow is deep enough to plow. It is essential that motorists traveling on our municipal roads use extreme caution and travel at a reduced speed once the winter weather begins. We encourage all residents to postpone any unnecessary travel until crews have had the chance to clear our streets. Medford Township officials are monitoring the snow accumulations and will distribute emergency information as needed throughout the storm via the website, the official Township Facebook page, and NIXLE Police Department notifications.
The Township's snow removal policies/procedures are posted here on the Township website: www.medfordtownship.com/content/233/251/325.aspx. Please note in these guidelines that some roads within Medford are State roads, and are the responsibility of the NJDOT to plow or salt. Issues on those roads should be reported to those agencies. Please be mindful that there are 150+ miles of roadway in Medford, not all roads can be immediately cleared - please allow us time to get the job done. There are roughly 600 streets in Medford that our crews are responsible to clear.
The Police Department will also be enforcing Township Code 129-3; which prohibits anyone from shoveling, blowing or plowing snow from private property onto sidewalks, streets and roadways, and fire hydrants of the Township.
The Township website also includes a Service Request system that provides online reporting of issues. One of the categories is snow removal issues, along with downed trees. Electrical and cable wires should be reported directly to the utility companies involved. The Submit Service Request page is available here: www.medfordtownship.com/servicerequest. There is important and helpful information/tips at the Ready Burlington County website (www.readycomm.org), and the Medford specific Ready page (www.readycomm.org/your-township-or-municipality/medford/) on preparing for storms, contact info for power companies in the event of need to report outages, and more...take a look.
Township personnel will have a challenging job ahead. To help them, please adhere to the following:
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Park ALL vehicles off the roadway to facilitate plowing.
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Railroad ties, sprinkler heads, mailboxes, curbing, etc., by the road edge should be marked with reflective markers that are 24" to 36" in height so they can be seen by the snow plow driver. The Township is not responsible for damage if area is not properly marked.