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1. Why do the plows block my driveway with snow?

The primary goal of plowing is to remove snow from streets so that the road is open to vehicular traffic. Snowplows typically push snow to the right of the travel lane, and unfortunately this results in snow piling up in front of driveways. Plow drivers have no control over the direction of the plow, and cannot stop or raise the plow at each driveway as this would leave a pile of snow in the roadway. We suggest that residents wait until the plow has been through their road prior to cleaning their driveway and mailbox area. If drifting or more snow occurs, the plows may have to make multiple passes to keep the road clear. Drivers will try to prevent excessive blockages at driveways, but at times this is not possible. Please remember that the clearing of the driveway and mailbox areas is the responsibility of the resident.

Postal regulations require residents to clear snow from in front of mailboxes to allow for mail delivery.

2. After the storm, the snowplow came through and pushed snow back into my yard or driveway. WHY?

Cleanup and widening operations often take place one to four days after the snowstorm, depending upon the severity of the storm and wind conditions. It is often necessary to widen roads to ensure that water from melting snow drains from the pavement surface to keep driving lanes open and free of excessive ice buildup. Unfortunately, cleanup and widening may push snow back into yards and driveways.

3. Who pays if the county knocks over my mailbox or damages my lawn?

Residents are advised that any items in the road right of way are placed at the residents' own risk and the County is not responsible for damages. Many residents, especially those residing on curved roads, have placed temporary markers along their properties. This can be helpful to the plow drivers initially, but the markers are sometimes damaged during cleanup and widening operations.

4. Why isn't my subdivision getting plowed right away?

Jefferson County has over 700 miles of road to clear and each plow driver has an assigned section which will take 12 to 14 hours to clear. Therefore, it depends on where within the assigned section a resident lives as to how soon a plow gets to the area.

During an extreme event, roads are cleared on a priority basis: (1) Major collector roads; (2) Minor collector roads; (3) Rural roads; (4) Subdivision streets; and (5) Dirt roads.

5. What should I do if my road isn't getting plowed?

Please call Jefferson County Road & Bridge at (208) 745-9224. Remember it takes 10 to 12 hours to plow the roads throughout the county after a small storm, and more severe storms can take much longer. If you believe your road has been missed, call as soon as possible.