Snow Operations Plan for January 7, 2022

The Department of Public Works is preparing for a snow event beginning in the early morning hours of Friday, January 7.

Trash, recycling, compost and Christmas tree collection will be suspended on Friday, January, 7th. All collections will take place on Saturday, January 8. 

City crews will be treating road surfaces with salt and brine solution starting at 2AM on Friday. City plows and contractors will begin snow removal at 6AM. 

We all have a shared responsibility for safety, and over the next few days we ask that all users remember to share the roadway, go slow, and use extra caution to be aware of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

What can you do to help?

• Please clear snow to curb so that collection crews can access your trash barrels and recycling toters and they are not behind snow banks.
• Please also help make streets and sidewalks accessible for all pedestrians during winter by removing snow and ice and reporting unshoveled or icy sidewalks. 

Sidewalk Clearing Tips:

• Use deicer (sodium acetate, potassium acetate, and calcium magnesium acetate) instead of salt (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride).
• Shovel early and often. Remove as much snow and ice as you can, and only use deicer on what you can’t take care of with a shovel.
• Follow product instructions and only use as much deicer as you need. More is not better and can actually cause partial melting and then re-freezing if applied on top of snow and ice, making conditions worse.  
• For wet snow or sleet and freezing rain, apply deicer product before it starts to snow to prevent snow and ice from bonding with pavement. 

Know of a street, bike lane, or sidewalk that needs clearing?

Use the Commonwealth Connect app or report online at www.CambridgeMA.gov/CommonwealthConnect. Our crews will be checking reports and addressing locations when crews are available. We all have a shared responsibility for keeping our community safe and accessible during winter weather.

Stay informed about all things snow-related in Cambridge at cambridgema.gov/snow.