SPring Creek Maintained roads

The Spring Creek Association is responsible for maintaining nearly 300 LANE miles of roads throughout our community. As a homeowner’s association, we do not receive federal funding or grants for road maintenance. Instead, nearly half of your annual assessment is invested directly into road repairs, chip sealing, crack sealing, and snow removal, which is not typical of a homeowner’s association. Each February, after the snow has melted, our Roads Department evaluates the condition of every roadway to determine which streets require maintenance during the upcoming construction season based on our pavement preservation plan. This annual assessment helps us prioritize repairs and make the best use of assessment dollars. Potholes that develop during winter are often repaired temporarily until weather conditions allow for permanent repairs.

What is Chip Seal?

A Chip seal is generally preventative maintenance treatment for dense grade asphalt roadways which most residential roads with SCA are not dense grade asphalt roads!  The 97% of residential roads currently are chipseal material placed directly over existing gravel roads that were built without proper drainage pavement drainage in the 1970’s.  A chip seal on dense grade asphalt would generally extend the life of existing pavement by sealing small cracks, protecting the road surface from water intrusion and weather damage, and improving traction. Applying chip seal before roads deteriorate significantly helps reduce the need for costly reconstruction in the future by extending the life beyond 25-30 years for typical dense grade asphalt roads with little maintenance preformed over its life.  The general cost of paving a residential road would be estimated at $105.00 per one foot length of roadway ($546,500/mile) for 3” min dense grade AC pavement, however placing a new dense grade asphalt roadway over the existing conditions roads would be extremely poorly advised.  The subgrade or foundation of the roadway would need to be repaired and upgraded to allow the best chance for new pavement to have a design life in the 40–45-year range.  This would include upgrading roadside ditches, individual driveways, subgrade, and base sections within the roadway paving area. Generally, this would be similar cost per one foot of roadway length ($105-$115 / foot) or another 546,500 / miles.   Total would be in the range of 1.09 million per mile of roadway. Chipseal currently helps build some thickness of the current chipseal roads which over a total of 4-5 cycles of chip are between 1” to 1.25” of existing thickness.

During the project, residents may notice:

• Temporary traffic delays 
• Loose rock on roadways 
• Reduced speed limits in work zones 
• Flaggers directing traffic 
• Short-term road closures or lane restrictions 
• Street sweeping following chip seal application 

We ask all residents to please drive slowly through work areas, obey all traffic control devices, and avoid parking on streets scheduled for treatment whenever possible. Please stay off the "meat line" (the strip of oil applied to the center of the roadway) until it has fully cured. Driving or walking through the fresh material can track oil onto vehicles, driveways, and other road surfaces.

Roads will not be swept immediately after chip seal is applied. The loose rock is intentionally left in place for several days to allow traffic to press the aggregate into the asphalt binder. This process helps create a stronger, longer-lasting road surface. Once the chip seal has properly cured, our crews will return to sweep and remove the excess rock. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this important maintenance process.

Help Us Track Road Issues

SCA maintains over 300 lane miles of roads, including many that are chip sealed. To help us stay ahead of potholes, flooding, or culvert issues, please use the form linked below to report problem areas. This form can also be used to notify us about issues involving utility installations like internet or gas lines.

The SCA has a five-man Roads Department and seven trucks equipped with plows. SCA also contracts with outside snow-removal vendors when additional help is needed so that we do not employ a full-time roads position year-round for work that is only required seasonally, which helps keep costs down. Spring Creek encompasses almost 25 square miles with 150 miles of road. To put this in perspective, there are about 25 miles of parkways that require four passes to complete—totaling roughly 100 lane miles on parkways alone. Beyond that, there are 125 miles of additional roads that take at least two passes, adding another 250 lane miles, with plows able to travel only 10–20 miles per hour depending on conditions. During heavy storms, these main roads and parkways often need repeated passes. We are also responsible for roads leading to SCA amenities, parking lots, schools, mailboxes, and more. Add in the time needed to reload salt and sand, fuel trucks, and travel to assigned areas, and you can understand why full system clearing takes time.

We try to do our very best to remove snow as quickly and safely as possible. If there are problem areas that need attention, we want to know about them. You can report concerns using the form HERE.
 

When it snows, the Road Crew—and other staff members with CDL licenses—work 12-hour shifts split between days and nights. They are frequently called in after already completing a full day’s work, and when conditions require, they work through weekends and holidays to keep roads clear and open. It is not uncommon for the crew to work up to two weeks without a day off, many of those days being 12-hour shifts.

Equipment breakdowns can also limit the number of trucks available at any given time. Much of our equipment is more than 30 years old, so you can imagine the challenges our team faces during each storm.

• Please DO NOT park on the sides of the roads before, during, or after a snow storm.
• Please remind children to stay off of the roads especially at night if they are playing in the snow. We have had a few close calls with children running or being in the road at night during a storm and we did not see them right away.
• Our plows will try our best not to throw snow on people who may be outside plowing, shoveling or at bus stops.
• When driving near a plow, please stay FAR behind the plow to avoid any damage.
• We try not to put snow in driveways and this can certainly be frustrating, although at times this is hard to avoid. Please refer to our diagram regarding pushing snow out of your driveway below.
• If it is a heavy snow, we typically will hit parkways, bus routes then other roads. Typically we will not fully clean a cul-de-sac on the first go around but will make a path in and out. We also try to make an in and out lane on each road and will clean up “pies” during the cleanup phase of snow removal.
• Wind certainly is a factor when plowing snow. We may not get to roads quickly depending on the wind and how it is affecting the main and bus routes. There have been times we had to just stay on the mains for days because of the wind, drifting snow and way the storm was coming in.
• We will try and hit the mailbox pads as we go by them as time allows, making a path also.
• Please DO NOT plow across the roads. Refer to the diagram on how and where to plow. This can cause major issues for the plows and damage equipment.

What can you do during a snow event?

• If possible, do not travel on the roads during a storm.  Wait until the roads have been cleared.
• When you have to travel on snow-covered roads, drive slowly and use caution.
• Do not attempt to drive through deep snow drifts.
• If you have the choice, use four-wheel drive vehicles rather than two-wheel drives.
• If you do get stuck, try to get your vehicle removed as soon as possible. 
• Do not park on the roads. This prevents the plows from getting the roads cleared.
• If a storm is severe enough for school to be closed, please keep children out of and away from the roads.
• Do not push snow from your driveway into the roads or across the road.  When snow is pushed onto the road and across the road but remains in the path of a snow plow, it can injure drivers and severely damage plows.  It is a major jolt when trucks hit a frozen pile of snow.  

Why does the snow plow go down the street with the plow up?

• In a snowfall less than two inches, main and secondary roads will not be plowed but will have salt/sand applied at intersections, hills, and curves.
• Each plow vehicle has their designated route throughout the Association.  We do not plow to and from routes.
• The plow could be traveling back to the shop for repairs.
• The plow could be traveling to get a refill of salt/sand.
• The plow is traveling back to its route after a refill or repair.

When do you plow?

• When a snowfall of greater than two inches has accumulated, the Roads Supervisor will authorize an action plan for general plowing.
• When snowfall of less than two inches has accumulated, salt and/or plowing may be utilized.  Primary roads and parkways may be completely cleared of snow and salt/sand applied.  Secondary roads will not be plowed but will have salt/sand applied at intersections, hills and curves.

Why is my street always last to be plowed?

• Intensity, duration and timing of the snow event present unique challenges and may result in longer times than anticipated before we are able to remove the snow from every street.  The Association has to clear and maintain over 150 miles of roads. In comparison, the City of Elko has about 100 miles. To put this in perspective, there are about 25 miles of parkways that need four passes to complete, in turn about 100 lane miles just on parkways. That leaves 125 miles of other roads which take at least two passes, in turn about 250 lane miles, with plows able to run between 10-20 miles an hour depending on conditions. As main streets are cleared, we will proceed to the secondary streets and to low volume residential through streets, dead ends and cul-de-sacs. Continued snowfall may require that we return to the main streets or dedicate equipment such that we may experience significant delay in getting to secondary streets. If a snow plow operator finishes their route, they will assist on other routes in order to complete all routes as quickly as conditions allow.
   

Why has the plow left a large amount of snow in my driveway so that I can’t get my car out?  When will they come to clean It up?

• Our goal is to clear the roadway for safe travel.  Unfortunately, snow deposited in your driveway is an inconvenient result of plowing. The greater the snowfall, the greater the amount of snow plowed into your driveway at times.  Crews will not remove snow from the end of private driveways. Adjacent property owners are responsible for clearing the snow to gain access to the roadway.  While some property owners may think the snow from the entire width of the street has been deposited at the end of their driveway, please be assured that snow plow operators do their best to make sure everyone receives the same amount of snow.  We regret the inconvenience.

Why can’t we push snow onto the road from our driveways or across the roads?

• Shoveling snow into the roads from vehicles and private driveways is strictly prohibited and against the Association rules and regulations. It only makes the situation worse for everyone. This can also cause equipment breakdowns as well as accidents and make the property owner who pushed the snow on the road liable. Please use discretion.

Can my vehicle be on the side of the road during snow?

• When heavy snowfalls are predicted, residents are asked, where possible, not to park on the roads. This is done to reduce the chance of blocking in parked vehicles, eliminate the chance of damaging vehicles and allow for a more efficient plowing operation.
  

Why does the plow not remove all of the snow from my road?

• The plows are designed to “float” on the roads using the weight of the blade. This is done to prevent damage to both the vehicle and road infrastructure. There may be an expectation to see blacktop when driving during snow events, although please understand, this typically will not be the case. We also ask that residents drive slowly as these wintery conditions can cause slippery roads.
  

I live in a cul-de-sac, can we pile our snow in the middle of the circle?

• No. Piling the snow in the middle of the circle will not get the cul-de-sac removed any quicker and will lead to icy patches when the snow melts during the day and refreezes as temperatures drop overnight. It will also create a hazardous condition when the plows come through in subsequent storms as the drivers cannot see if children are playing in the snow pile.
  

Why do I never see a truck when it snows?

• Depending upon the time of day, traffic volumes and snowfall amounts, the average parkways can take between 4 and 6 hours to complete. Plowing operations will require at least 12 to 24 hours after the end of the storm depending on snow amount totals and duration. The trucks will continue back over these main routes until the storm has stopped and these streets are clear of snow or ice.

Why don’t you plow to the center of the street? 

• Plowing snow to the center of the street can be very hazardous to motorists: traffic flow is restricted by eliminating a portion of a lane; the constant freeze/thaw cycle rapidly deteriorates the pavement; and icy driving conditions are created when the melting snow freezes on the pavement every night. This practice can also create sight obstructions for vehicles, and cause problems for residents entering and exiting roadways. The SCA has a five man roads department and five trucks with plows. SCA also contracts with outside snow removal vendors when their help is needed, so that we do not employ a roads person year round when they are only needed during snow removal, to save on costs.  Spring Creek encompasses almost 25 square miles with 150 miles of road. To put this in perspective, there are about 25 miles of parkways that need four passes to complete, in turn, there are about 100 lane miles on just the parkways. That leaves 125 miles of other roads which take at least two passes, in turn about 250 lane miles with plows able to run between 10-20 miles an hour depending on conditions. Also remember, when there is heavy snow, these main roads and parkways may need to be repeated. We also have the roads to our amenities, parking lots, schools, mailboxes, etc. Add to that the time it takes to reload with salt and sand, time to fuel their trucks and travel to the area they are assigned and you can understand why it takes time to get the roads cleared.