Will the Village of Barrington clear the snow its plow leaves across my driveway?

No. The village's snow and ice page says plows may push snow in front of an already cleared driveway and will continue to widen cleared areas; no return for aprons is offered.

Why can't the township plow lift the blade at driveways?

Ela Township Road District says there is no practical way for the operator to cut off the windrow when crossing a driveway. Cuba Township says a route takes up to four hours, so stopping at every drive is not possible.

What should a snow contract say about the windrow?

Whether a return pass after the public plow is included in the season price, billed per return, or handled by timing the route after the village or township finishes. Get it in writing in October.

The Windrow

The Windrow Across the Apron, and Who Clears It

The public plow comes through an hour after the driveway is done and leaves a ridge of road-packed snow across the apron. Every village and township here says in writing it will not come back for it. Whether your contract does is the question.

Call (224) 655-5981 Get a Quote

The plowing, shoveling and salting arranged through this page is done by an independent snow removal operator under their own business name and their own insurance. This site makes the introduction and clears nothing itself.

The Lived Problem

The Plow Comes, and the Driveway Is Closed Again

Every homeowner on a plowed road knows the sequence. The private operator clears the driveway at 5 a.m. The village or township truck comes through at 9, and the blade, angled to the right, leaves a ridge of dense, road-packed snow across the apron — the windrow. It is heavier than anything that fell from the sky, and in this area it will still be there a week later, because the station records snow on the ground 64 days a year.

What makes the windrow different in the Barrington villages is that the public plows say, in writing, that they will not come back for it.

In Their Own Words

What the Villages and Townships Publish

Village of Barrington

Its snow and ice page says that during operations “plows may push snow in front of your already cleared driveway,” advises waiting until the street is completely plowed, and adds that “plows will continue to widen cleared areas” — meaning a second windrow after the first. No return pass for aprons is offered anywhere on the page.

Ela Township Road District (Deer Park)

“There is no practical way for the snow plow operator to cut off the wind row of snow when crossing a driveway.” Cul-de-sacs take 20 to 30 minutes each, and the township asks residents not to push snow back into a plowed street.

Cuba Township Road District (Lake Barrington, South Barrington, Tower Lakes)

“A typical route takes up to 4 hours” — which is how long after the private plow leaves that the windrow can arrive. Pushing driveway snow into the right-of-way is prohibited, and a 35-foot plow truck limits what a cul-de-sac can hold.

South Barrington

Main roads first, secondary roads next, cul-de-sacs last; “if needed, a smaller truck will be used to finish removal on a cul-de-sac the following day.” Cleanup runs six to eight hours after the storm winds down. Two windrows, a day apart, is a normal cul-de-sac winter.

The Contract Question

Return Pass Included, or Billed?

This is the single line in a seasonal contract that decides whether the driveway is actually cleared. Three ways operators handle it:

Included. The operator comes back after the public plow has passed and opens the apron. The season price reflects the second trip. This is the product most people think they are buying.
Billed per return. The apron is opened on request at a per-visit price, often the low tier of a per-visit table. Cheaper in a light winter, and a phone call every time.
Timed after the public plow. The operator runs the route after the village or township has finished, so the driveway and the windrow are cleared in one pass. It means a later clearance, and it depends on the operator knowing when Cuba or Ela finishes — which an operator who works these roads does.

None of these is wrong. Not knowing which one you bought is. Get it in writing in October, and get the price of a return pass in writing even if it is included, so a February argument has a number in it.

The free version: pile the snow you shovel yourself on the right side of the drive as you face the road. The public plow’s blade throws right; snow on the left comes straight back across the apron on the next pass.

The Exception

Private Roads Have No Windrow — and No Plow

On Barrington Hills’ 24.5 miles of private road, in Wynstone, on a South Barrington association street or in Lake Barrington Shores, no public plow comes and no public windrow forms. Instead the association’s contractor plows the road, and whether that contract touches the driveway or its apron is a question for the association. On a private road the windrow conversation is between two private contractors, and the homeowner is usually the one who has to have it. Private roads and HOA streets.

Common Questions

What People Ask About This

Will the Village of Barrington clear the snow its plow leaves across my driveway?: No. The village's snow and ice page says plows may push snow in front of an already cleared driveway and will continue to widen cleared areas; no return for aprons is offered.
Why can't the township plow lift the blade at driveways?: Ela Township Road District says there is no practical way for the operator to cut off the windrow when crossing a driveway. Cuba Township says a route takes up to four hours, so stopping at every drive is not possible.
What should a snow contract say about the windrow?: Whether a return pass after the public plow is included in the season price, billed per return, or handled by timing the route after the village or township finishes. Get it in writing in October.