Snow Removal and Sidewalk Maintenance

Snow removal involves the shared responsibilities of the Town's snow removal team, residents, and property owners. Key points to remember:

Emergency routes are plowed first. 

These include access to hospitals and schools and all routes critical for emergency responders, including MacGregor Avenue, Big Horn Drive, Riverside Drive, Peak View Drive, Scott Avenue, Dry Gulch Road and any other streets that must remain accessible for police or fire emergencies. When conditions warrant it necessary, emergency routes are cleared outside of roadway plowing hours.  

Roadway plowing hours

While the timing  and magnitude of a snow event determines the service hours, roadway plowing typically begins between 3 and 5 a.m. Drivers strive to make a complete pass along each route in five hours, although this takes longer during dangerously slick conditions and when we are short-staffed. Plows generally stop running by 3:30 p.m. This stop time allows drivers to go home and rest before returning to their routes. 

Trail plowing hours

Town maintained trails and sidewalks are typically plowed between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sidewalk snow-removal and ice management is the responsibility of the property owner, in both residential and commercial areas.

Agencies that plow snow in the Estes Valley: 

Town-managed roadways are indicated on the snow route map available through the Town of Estes Park Mapping and GIS Portal.  

• State-managed roadways are plowed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (orange plows): 
• U.S. 34, which includes Big Thompson Avenue, Wonderview Avenue and Fall River Road.  
• U.S. 36, which includes North Saint Vrain Avenue, East Elkhorn Avenue,  and Moraine Avenue. 
• CO 7 (Highway 7) which includes South Saint Vrain Avenue.
• County-managed roads are plowed by the Larimer County Road and Bridge Department (yellow trucks)
• CR 43 (Devil’s Gulch Road)
• Unincorporated portions of shared roadways including MacGregor Avenue, Fish Creek Road, Dry Gulch Road (CR 63) and Marys Lake Road.
• CO 66 including Tunnel Road (by agreement with CDOT) 

On-street parking enforcement. 

Unless signed or painted, parking on Town streets is prohibited due to space limitations. Unlawfully parked vehicles on narrow streets can impede snow plow operations and may be towed at the owner's expense.

Owners are responsible for private driveways and sidewalks. 

Property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks in front of their homes or businesses within 24 hours after the snowfall stops. This includes new sidewalks recently constructed during the Downtown Estes Loop project. By law, snow removed from any sidewalk or driveway may not be deposited into the roadway. Doing so can create dangerous conditions for motorists and negates the clearing work done by plow drivers. Unfortunately, the snow pushed from public roads and trails may cause a ridge at the edge of private driveways and sidewalks. Property owners must remove this ridge of snow as part of their responsibility for clearing private driveways and sidewalks.  Residents who are unable to clear their own driveways are encouraged to contact local private contractors who provide this service. 

Visibility for plow drivers

Snowplows are less maneuverable than other vehicles, and visibility is often limited. Motorists are reminded to be alert during winter weather conditions, use vehicle headlights, and give the plows plenty of room to maneuver.
 

According to Chapter 6 of the Postal Operations Manual:

Section 623.21

"The customer is responsible for keeping the approach to the mailbox clear to facilitate delivery (see 632.14). If the carrier continually experiences a problem in serving curbline boxes and where the customer is able to control access or on-street parking in front of his or her mailbox but does not take prompt corrective action after being properly notified, the postmaster may, with the approval of the district manager, withdraw delivery service."

Section 632.14

"The customer is responsible for keeping the approach to his or her mailbox clear to facilitate delivery. Where the approach to the mail receptacle located at the curb is temporarily blocked by a parked vehicle during normal delivery hours for the area, or snow or ice hampers the approach to the mailbox, the carrier normally dismounts to make delivery. If the carrier continually experiences a problem in serving curbline boxes and where the customer is able to control on-street parking in front of his or her mailbox but does not take prompt corrective action after being properly notified, the postmaster may, with the approval of the district manager, withdraw delivery service."