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November 21, 2019 

Snow Season is Here!

With winter storms blasting into Lake County on several occasions already, it's official - SNOW SEASON is here! 

The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is committed to helping you stay safe when winter weather impacts roads. If you haven't reviewed these materials recently, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the content so that you are prepared before the next big snow.

Oh, and let's not forget our big news - you can now view progress on snow and ice removal operations through Lake County PASSAGE.

NEW - Snow Plow Tracker

For a couple years, LCDOT has used a system that tracks where our snow plows are at during operations. That then got us asking this question, "how do we make this information available to the public?" So we got to work, made some updates to our PASSAGE system, and installed cameras on our plow trucks. 

We are now excited to introduce to you our new snow plow tracker! Motorists can check the progress of snow and ice removal on all 26 of LCDOT's plow routes through Lake County PASSAGE. See the direction each snow plow is heading, its current speed, and more. You can even view the latest road conditions through snapshots taken from each plow, which are updated every three minutes. See how it works by watching this video.

Which Roads Does LCDOT Plow?

Our most frequently asked question is - which roads do you plow? LCDOT plows Lake County highways, the ones marked with the 5-sided blue and gold route markers such as Butterfield Road, Washington Street, and Buffalo Grove Road. We do NOT plow state routes like IL Route 120 or IL Route 60. State routes are maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). 

Map of LCDOT Snow Routes»

Know Before You Go - Lake County PASSAGE

LCDOT has built several tools in-house through Lake County PASSAGE for you to get real-time, local traffic information throughout the winter season. Download the Lake County PASSAGE app, or go to the website. You can also sign up for email traffic alerts, and twitter alerts.

In addition to checking the progress of snow removal in Lake County, you have access to the PASSAGE cameras which means you can look at real-time snapshots from major intersections. Turn on camera images in “Layer Options” at the top right, find intersections along your route, and check road conditions in each direction. The following picture is from last year. 

Using Salt Responsibly 

Beet juice on roads! Using salt to de-ice roads is a common method to make roads less slick, but that salt washes away into lakes and streams or seeps into groundwater supplies which can threaten aquatic plants and animals, and even human health. LCDOT uses an in-house liquid blending system that allows for the adjustment of salt brine and beet juice ratios to meet various road conditions. This is one example of a safe alternative that Lake County shares at the annual deicing workshops.

See how Lake County agencies are working with public and private partners to take steps to reduce salt and use it more effectively by implementing safe alternatives - like beet juice. Watch video

Other Resources

Here at LCDOT we have been preparing for snow season. Now it's your turn! Review these resources and be prepared before it snows again. 

LCDOT Snow Season Story Map: This interactive mapping tool explains everything you need to know about our snow and ice removal operations.

Snow Plow Operations: Have you ever wondered what it looks like from behind the wheel of a snow plow? Watch this video taken from a dashboard camera, and learn more about our operations as the plow clears Lake County highways. 

Ready.gov: This page explains what actions to take when you receive a winter weather storm alert from the National Weather Service, and what to do before, during, and after a snowstorm or extreme cold. Look for advice on what to include in an emergency kit for your car. 

Contact Information

Alex Carr
Communications Coordinator
communications@lakecountyil.gov
847-377-7400