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Public Works

Show All Answers

1. Which major roads are maintained by the state or county, and which does the city maintain?

State-Maintained Roads - Illinois Department of Transportation - 815-722-6652

• State Street (also known as Route 171 or Archer)
• New Avenue
• Route 53 (Broadway)
• Route 7 (also known as 9th Street or 159th Street)

County-Maintained Roads - Will County Highway Department - 815-727-8476

• Briggs Street
• Division Street east of Briggs to Cedar Road
• Cedar Road

City-Maintained Roads - Public Works Department - 815-838-0549, option 8

• Division Street west of Briggs Street
• Farrell Road
• Gougar Road from Bruce Road to 163rd / 7th Street
• Gougar Road north of 151st Street
• 147th Street to Lemont Road
• Thornton from State Street to Madison

2. My yard was damaged by city snowplows. Who will repair it?

Call Public Works at 815-838-0549, option 8, with your request for service. The Public Works Department will fill out a work order and place you on a list for dirt and seed restoration to be done in spring / summer. The city is not responsible for damage to sprinkler heads in the parkway.

3. My mailbox was damaged by city snowplows. Who will repair it?

The City of Lockport makes every effort to clear the roads from curb to curb where cars are not parked on the street. In many cases, with wet snow, the snow may damage/remove mailboxes that are set close to the street; this is unavoidable. Mailbox damage complaints will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. If the city is responsible for mailbox damage, call Public Works at 815-838-0549, option 8, to submit a service request. If it is determined by Public Works that the damage is a result of the plow blade coming into direct contact with your mailbox, you will have the following options:

1. Public Works will repair it.
2. If it is not repairable, we will replace it with a 4x4 post and standard metal mailbox in your choice of black or white.
3. You can repair it or replace it yourself. The city will reimburse you up to $30 for materials. A receipt must be submitted to Public Works.

4. How does the city decide when snow / ice removal is needed?

The general policy is that city crews begin plowing after snow accumulations of 1-2 inches. Depending on weather conditions and information from the city’s weather forecasting services, snow and ice removal operations may begin sooner. The Public Works Department strives to respond with salting and/or plowing before roads become slippery for vehicle travel. For an average snow event, the Public Works Department will complete a plowing operation in 8-12 hours.

5. Why does the city have an overnight parking ban on all streets?

The city has an ordinance against parking on any city street when the snowfall exceeds 2 inches for the entire duration of snow and ice control operations. The parking ban allows city crews to more completely remove snow without obstruction from vehicles on the roadway. Even when it is not snowing, the city often has to complete clean-up work on corners and intersections. The parking ban helps the city keep roads safe for all residents and motorists. Residents needing temporary exception from the parking ban may apply to the Police Department for a special permit.

6. Why does the plow push snow into my driveway?

The city is responsible for clearing streets of snow and ice to allow for emergency access, vehicular traffic, and daytime parking. The city clears the street from curb to curb to ensure that emergency vehicles and all traffic can move safely. As the city trucks pass driveways, some snow rolls off the edge of the side-discharge plow and into the driveway, particularly if the driveway has already been cleared. There are ways for you to minimize this problem. When shoveling out the portion of your driveway closest to the street, push the snow to the right (as you face the street) so that it will be “downstream” when the plow comes by. Please be aware that in a very heavy snow or during storms where snow continues to fall, plows may make as many as 3 or 4 passes to clear the roadways.

Cul-de-sacs are particularly difficult to plow during snow removal operations. The city has 145 cul-de-sacs that are plowed after each snow event. Smaller trucks are used to negotiate turns on these streets. Cul-de-sacs are cleared just as the street is with the driver plowing in a counter-clockwise circle from the inside to the outside. As the driveways on streets, it is inevitable that some snow will come off the plow. Try to wait until the cul-de-sac has been plowed before clearing your driveway. When you do shovel, push snow to the right side of the driveway to keep it from being pushed back into the area just cleared. Plowing snow from the outside of the cul-de-sac to the middle does not work. Using this approach, the driver would eventually run out of room to pile the snow. Also, plowing driveways to the middle of the island is possible but would require too much time and risk damage to private property. Fire hydrants are located in many cul-de-sac islands; for fire safety, these cannot be buried by plowed snow.

7. Can I push the snow from my driveway into the street?

No, this is prohibited by city ordinance. Residents may be held liable for any accidents caused by shoveling snow into the roadway.

8. Who is responsible for clearing the snow 3 feet around the fire hydrant?

The homeowner is responsible for clearing the snow 3 feet around the fire hydrant.

9. How do I report a pothole on my street?

Call the Public Works Department at 815-838-0549, option 8, to make a service request.

10. When will my street be swept?

Curbed streets are swept on a rotating basis. The current time between sweeping is approximately 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the time of year, rainfall, etc. Street sweeping cannot be done in temperatures below freezing.

11. I have a dead animal on my street. Who picks it up?

If your street is within city limits, call Public Works at 815-838-0549, option 8, to dispose of the dead animal.

12. What do I do if my streetlight is out?

Call Public Works at 815-838-0549, option 8, to notify them of the problem. If it is a streetlight maintained by the city, we will fix it. If ComEd maintains the streetlight, we will notify ComEd and they will fix it. Please provide an address closest to the non-functioning light.

13. When will my tree be trimmed?

Trimming of parkway trees and other trees located on city right-of-ways are currently done on an 8-year cycle. If you are not sure if a tree is on your property or city property, call Public Works at 815-838-0549, option 8.

14. What is Lockport’s tree policy?

The Public Works Department removes dead parkway trees. According to the City of Lockport Municipal Code, diseased trees on private property are tagged and the property owners are required to remove them at their expense.

15. I had a tree removed. When will it be replaced?

If the parkway tree has been removed due to the Emerald Ash Borer the City is currently allowing residents to add their address to our Parkway Tree Replacement list by calling 815-838-0549 option 8. If the parkway tree was removed but is not an Emerald Ash residents can take advantage of our 50/50 program by submitting a request in our service request system.

16. When does the city plant sod, and when do they use black dirt and seed?

The city does not replace sod. After a water main break or sewer excavation, the area is restored with topsoil and seed. Six months are needed after the main break to let the ground settle before the repair can be done. For stump removal or plow damage, black dirt and seed are used to repair the yard. It is very important to water the seed after it has been planted in order for it to grow properly.

17. I have a loose or hanging tree limb. What do I do?

Call Public Works Department at 815-838-0549, option 8, to make a service request. If the tree is on the parkway, it is the responsibility of the city. If it is from a tree on private property, the homeowner is responsible for removing the limb.

18. What do I do about leaf pickup?

Waste Management will pick up bagged leaves until the first week of December on your designated garbage day (no sticker necessary).  The  Public Works annual leaf pick up program begins mid October provided enough leaves have fallen to warrant a crew going out, and will run through Friday, November 15 (weather permitting). Please rake your leaves to the back edge of the curb line.

19. There is water in my basement. What should I do?

Call Public Works at 815-838-0549, option 8, and they will call a supervisor and have a crew go out to check the main sewer line. If it is a main line, the city is responsible. If it is a private line, which is anything from the house to the main line, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to fix.

20. There was a water main break on my street, and my yard was damaged. When will it be repaired?

Six months are necessary to let ground settle after a main break before yard repair can be done.

21. How do I locate my B-box?

Call the Water Department at 815-838-0549, option 3. They will write a work order for the Water Department to locate the B-box. It is important to allow a 48-hour notice prior to locating it.

22. What do I do if I have rusty water after a main break repair or hydrant flushing?

Sediment in the water pipes can be knocked loose during either water main repair or hydrant flushing, causing the water to turn a shade of brown. This water is not dangerous or contaminated. To alleviate this problem, you should run any faucet in your house that does not have a filtration screen until the water is clear (usually this will be a faucet in a utility sink). If the problem persists, call the Water Department at 815-838-0549, option 3.

23. Who do I call for sewer issues?

Call the Lockport Sanitary Sewer Department at 815-838-1705.

24. I am going to dig in my yard. Do I need to call J.U.L.I.E.?

Yes; by law you are required to call JULIE a minimum of 2 working days PRIOR to any digging. To request a locate, please call 1-800-892-0123.

25. There are different colored flags in my yard. Why are they there, and what do they mean?

These flags represent the utilities located underground. The colors represent the following:

• Orange - Communication, Telephone, TV
• Red - Electric
• Green - Sewer
• Yellow - Gas, Oil, Petroleum
• Blue - Water
• Purple - Reclaimed Water
• White - Proposed Excavation
• Pink - Temporary Survey Markings

For questions regarding JULIE markings in your yard, please contact JULIE directly at 1-800-892-0123

26. I am having problems with mosquitoes. Who should I call?

Call Public Works at 815-838-0549, option 8.

27. Who will handle my branch/brush/yard waste pick up?

Brush/Branch pick up is handled by Waste Management on your regular garbage collection day. Yard waste collection begins the first week of April and continues until the last week of November. Simply set your yard waste bags/container (brown kraft bags or Yard Waste Tote) out with your refuse & recycling.

For branches & brush, the following conditions must be met:

1. Cut branches into max. 4 ft. lengths

2. Bundled with string or twine, up to 50 lb. bundles.

If you would like to order a Yard Waste tote for $2 a month (added onto your water bill), please contact the Water Department at (815) 838-0549, opt. 3.

Note: Public Works will be offering branch pick up twice per year. In order to participate in this service, branches must be out on the 1st Monday of May for the spring service; or the 1st Monday of October for the fall service. Please note it may take up to 2 weeks for the branches to be picked up during these service times.

28. Where do residents drop off their Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) reports?

All homeowners that have a sprinkler system are required to submit an annual RPZ test report prior to activating their sprinkler system for the season. The RPZ test must be performed by a licensed Cross Connection Control Device Inspector. A list of certified inspectors can be located at ccra4safewater.com under the find an Inspector Tab. All RPZ tests are to be submitted through CCRA Professional Services. No paper reports/tests should be sent to the city. Any questions either email services@ccra4safewater.com or call 630-450-7781.