Highway Operations

Q:  Does Waukesha County Public Works remove snow from sidewalks or driveways? 

A:   No.  Waukesha County handles snow removal on county and state highways only. 

Q:  How do you determine when to salt or brine? 

A:  Many factors are taken into consideration for use of materials on roads.  Brine is applied when wind is light to keep it on target and before a storm when snow is expected so the brine can "buy time" before snow/ice can bond to pavement.  Salt is applied during storms or heavy frost to loosen and break the snow/ice bond.  Salt can also work as the catalyst for melting as snow dilutes rock salt creating a salt solution to melt or reduce the freezing point of liquid. 

Q: How do you determine when to anti-ice? (Anti-ice - the act of spraying brine on roads before an expected storm or freezing event.)

A:  Anti-ice is considered when wind is light and temperature is between 35 and 22 degrees ahead of expected snow without liquid precipitation (i.e. rain) before snow accumulates on road surfaces.

Q: How do you determine when to utilize rock salt with prewet vs rock salt with hot load?   (Prewet - the act of spraying rock salt on the road during an event to activate the salt and hold it on the road.  Hot load - sprayed directly on hard pack (compressed snow), or when temps drop below 7 degrees.)

A: Prewet rock salt is utilized in temperatures above 15 degrees when heavy frost, snow or ice has bonded to the road surface. This loosens bond by melting or plowing off accumulation.  Hot load with rock salt is utilized between 15 and - 5 degrees to help loosen bond of snow, ice and hard pack to the road surface.

Q: What is brine? 

A: Brine is salty water.  Water that is filtered through salt until it reaches 23.3% solidity. 

Safety Tips:

• Drivers should stay back from snowplows 200 ft per State Statute 346.915
• Avoid blind spots around the plow
• Prepare for plows to go slow, making frequent stops/turns

Q: Where can I place my mailbox? 

A: Approved mailbox placement 

Q: What can I do before the snow season re: my mailbox? 

A: Check over your mailbox in fall for any current wear/tear that may not last the weather conditions.  Highway operations will not replace mailboxes that were already in poor condition (ex: rotting, taping, bungee cords).

Q: There’s damage to my mailbox after a snow event; how do I get it replaced? 

A: Contact our highway operations at 262-548-7736.
*Please note mailbox replacement is done on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.  Mailboxes can be damaged during snow events by unavoidable circumstances, such as pushed snow or icy conditions, which would be the responsibility of the owner to replace. 

Replacements will not be conducted on mailboxes that were deemed in already poor condition (ex: rotting wood, tape or bungee cord usage). 

If your mailbox is determined to be damaged by one of highway operations’ plows, a standard U.S. Post Office approved mailbox and post will be placed as time allows.  If a special/decorative mailbox is desired, it will be at the owner’s expense.

Q: What are the DOT mowing policies? 

A: Mowing 07-05-35, Urban mowing 07-05-40