Southern Wisconsin Times

The City of Janesville has declared a winter weather emergency beginning at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. This declaration requires all parked vehicles to be removed from City streets until snow and ice control operations are complete. The decision was made due to the accumulation of snow and ice on residential streets, which have become hardpacked and are now breaking up with the warmer temperatures.

"With the prior snow and ice accumulation and period of deep freeze, residential streets in the City have hardpacked snow and ice which are breaking up with the warmer temperatures," said an official from the City of Janesville.

The City aims to take advantage of the warmer temperatures by using this opportunity to clean up residential streets and ensure that gutter lines and storm sewer intakes are clear to prevent localized flooding issues.

To accommodate the emergency parking situation, the Janesville Police Department has announced that they will not issue citations for on-street parking during the plowing event. However, they strongly encourage residents to park off-street if possible, in order to ensure the safety of their vehicles and assist in effective plowing operations.

"The Janesville Police Department will not issue citations for on-street parking during this plowing event," stated a spokesperson from the Janesville Police Department. "However, for the safety of private vehicles and City crews, as well as to assist in effective plowing operations, vehicles are strongly encouraged to park off-street if possible."

Residents are advised that the best place to park during a winter weather emergency is in their garages or driveways. If that is not possible, parking is allowed in any municipal parking lot during this time. The City has provided a list of available municipal parking lots, including the East Wall Street Lot, City Hall Lot, S High Street Lot, Hedberg Public Library Lot, River/Union Street Lot, and N Parker Drive Parking Ramp.

For additional information and updates regarding the winter weather emergency, residents can visit the City's Snow & Ice Control webpage or call the Snow Hotline at (608) 755-SNOW. Any problems or concerns can be reported by contacting the City Services Center at (608) 755-3110.

With the winter weather emergency in effect, the City of Janesville is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and accessibility of its streets. Residents are urged to cooperate and follow the instructions provided to facilitate the efficient clearing of snow and ice from the roads.