The Linn County Secondary Road Department is prepared for the 2024-25 winter season. Part of the preparation is sharing information with residents about the Secondary Road Department’s hours of operation, snow routes, Track-a-Plow technology, and the County snow and ice ordinance and policy

Hours of Operation

Regular hours of operation for the Secondary Road Department are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. These hours may be extended during a snow event to 4 a.m.-6 p.m., including Saturdays and Sundays, at the discretion of the County engineer or designee. Linn County does not operate outside of these maximum hours of operation except in the case of assisting emergency personnel or a declared emergency by the Board of Supervisors or Governor.

Snow Routes

Snow removal routes on Linn County secondary roads are prioritized by traffic count and road surfacing and are designated as priority routes and standard routes. There are 30 priority routes served by 30 truck snowplows and plow operators. There are 41 standard routes served by 30 truck snowplows, 11 motor graders, and their operators. Linn County has approximately 1,200 miles of secondary roads, which is roughly the equivalent of driving from Linn County to Nashville and back.

Maps of the priority and standard routes are available on Linn County’s website at LinnCountyIowa.gov/Engineer or the Engineer’s Office, 1888 County Home Road, Marion.

No Parking on County Roads

All Linn County secondary roads (including those located within subdivisions) are established as snow routes. To minimize the hazards associated with snow removal operations, parking of vehicles within the right-of-way is prohibited for any reason following snowfalls exceeding one inch, or freezing rain in any amount, until 48 hours after the roads have been plowed and/or are no longer blowing shut due to drifted snow and County snow removal operations are completed, with the roads fully open to traffic. Vehicles found in violation of this County ordinance can be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

Snow and Ice Ordinance and Policy

• Hard surface roads are given priority during and following snow events.
• Rock roads are plowed to provide access to the hard-surface system. Rock roads are opened to one-lane travel as soon as practicable during regular County operating hours. Road crews attempt to open rock roads to travel within two or three days following the snow event; this is not always possible during heavy snow with wind.
• Linn County does not have a bare or dry pavement policy. Crews apply salt and sand to hard-surfaced roads to provide grit and help clear the surface when practicable, particularly on hills, curves, and intersections.

It is important to remember each winter storm has individual characteristics and road crews respond accordingly. In addition, the Secondary Road Department will from time-to-time test and evaluate various new products, equipment, and methods to develop strategies for improving effectiveness and response to winter driving conditions. For these reasons, the level of service will not be the same from one road to the next, nor from one storm to the next.

The entire Linn County Snow and Ice Removal Ordinance and the Secondary Road Department Winter Maintenance Operation Policy are available on Linn County’s website LinnCountyIowa.gov.

Track-A-Plow

Linn County residents can now see the locations of Linn County snowplows during snow events. This online program uses AVL (automated vehicle location) technology to provide current and historical locations of snowplows on Linn County’s secondary roads. The Track-a-Plow website is updated approximately every five minutes during a snow event using AVL technology on each snowplow and motor grader.

The Track-a-Plow website is available at: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1a4afc36ee544a179bdad4dbae77d065

A link to the webpage is also available at LinnCountyIowa.gov.

Snow Response Updates

Linn County provides text and email updates to its response to snow events. Subscribe to receive the updates by visiting LinnCountyIowa.gov/NotifyMe.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

• Remember that speed limits are meant for dry roads, not roads covered in snow and ice. Reduce your speed and increase your following distance as road conditions and visibility worsen.
• Be cautious on bridges and overpasses as they are commonly the first areas to become icy.
• Keep a safe distance when following snowplows. This is critical because snowplows create a swirl of snow that can blind the driver of a car following too closely or cars approaching from the opposite direction.
• Do not stop too closely behind a stopped snowplow. The operator may be preparing to back up and may not see you.
• Do not pass a snowplow unless your visibility is clear and it is completely safe for you, the snowplow operator, and other vehicles. Snowplow operators may have limited visibility, and the road in front of them may be worse than the road behind.
• Patience is necessary during the winter season. The snowplow operator is working to provide safe road conditions for you and your family.
• Use caution when snowbanks limit your view of oncoming traffic.
• Monitor road and weather conditions by checking local news stations or online traffic and weather sites.
• Notify the Linn County Secondary Road Department at 319-892-6400 or [email protected] if you are forced to abandon your vehicle on or along a county road. This may assist with your retrieval of the vehicle and reduce the negative effect on the snow response.