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McHenry County Division of Transportation Snow and Ice Policy

The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) is prepared for the winter season.  Here is some information about our operation and some helpful tips for residents and drivers.

The MCDOT maintains about 530 lane miles of highway throughout McHenry County. These roadways are divided into snow routes that average about 27 miles per route.  In normal operations, MCDOT dispatches 25 large plow trucks to cover 20 routes.

MCDOT can supplement these routes with several smaller trucks as well. The reason for additional equipment on several of the routes is the expansion of our roadway system from two-lane highways to multiple-lane highways, mainly in the southeastern portion of McHenry County.  Maps of our snow routes can be found here.  

There are fourteen different maps for normal operations and one split shift map. During a split shift, we consolidate to 12 routes, which greatly increases the mileage for each route during 24-hour coverage, and decreases our level of service

All MCDOT trucks are equipped with computerized dispensing systems for the proper placement of materials and liquids. Larger plow trucks all have 12-foot plows and 10-foot wings.  The plows are used to remove snow from pavement and shoulders, and to push back snowdrifts.  All trucks are equipped with liquid tanks to wet the salt as it is applied to the pavement.  This reduces scatter, begins the melting process of going into solution, and improves the performance by utilizing our blend. The use of this technology with the addition of liquids helps the operation use the least amount of chlorides which protects the environment and decreases the number of contaminants entering McHenry County aquifers.

Over the past three years, the MCDOT has incorporated four all-liquid routes. Each one of these routes revealed a 38% reduction in salt usage. The liquid brine utilized has a concentration of 23.3% which keeps the salt in suspension. Salt kernels by themselves are 100% sodium chloride. We combine the salt brine with an organic by-product called beet juice. The beet juice has some melting capabilities but is very tacky which helps the brine and salt adhere to the roadway.

MCDOT uses several de-icing materials in its operation.  Salt is the primary de-icing tool that MCDOT uses, both in solid and liquid form.  The rock salt utilized is a treated material, with salt brine, calcium chloride, and organics all in liquid form.  

We use proactive measures and all the best practices in winter maintenance to minimize the number of chemicals needed and protect our environment while maintaining a safe roadway system.

What are those lines on the road? 

MCDOT pre-applies liquid de-icing materials to roadways before an event if conditions allow.  This pre-application is known as anti-icing. This is a proactive measure that prevents snow and ice from bonding to the roadway, so it is easily removed, and a smaller amount of material is needed to keep the surface from freezing.  The product used for anti-icing is a combination of salt brine base, with a small amount of an organic compound and, depending on temperature, possibly a small amount of calcium chloride.  This is commonly known as Supermix.  The addition of the organic compound makes the liquid dark in color because it is a carbohydrate, it helps keep the solution on the roadway longer. It also helps reduce the working temperature, as does the small portion of calcium chloride. Supermix is applied to the salt as it is dispensed to prevent scatter and begin the melting process.

What can you do?  

Please drive safely.  Please respect the need to clear snow and ice from our highway system.  Like all trucks, these plows are large and must travel slowly to scrape the roadways and apply materials.  Please be aware that these trucks need to turn around and back up on occasion. Please stay back at least 50 feet from the plow so the operator can see you.  

Please do not place objects near the roadway that the plow or wing may strike.  Operators must clear the road and shoulder for proper drainage, future snow storage, and emergency breakdowns.  Objects near the road may be struck by the plow or wing plow.  Garbage cans are one such obstacle.  Mailboxes are often knocked down from the snow coming off the plow.  This is especially true in heavy wet snow. Operators do their best to never hit a mailbox.  Please check your mailbox before the season.  If a plow knocks your mailbox down, contact MCDOT and it will be repaired per our snow and ice policy.

Please do not deposit snow from your driveway onto the roadway.  If you contract to have your driveway cleared, please inform the contractor that they cannot deposit snow on the roadway or push it across the roadway.  This is against state law and may cause a hazard to other drivers and could result in tickets and fines.  If possible, push your snow at the end of your driveway to the side where the plow will carry it downstream of traffic and the plowing, instead of carrying it across your drive as the plow passes. Please do not allow children to play near a roadway or to build snow forts near the roadway for their safety.

For further information or to report a winter hazard please contact the McHenry County Division of Transportation at 815-334-4960.