Street / Forestry Division

Overview

 
The Streets/Forestry division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of over 150 lane miles of Village streets, management and provision of snow and ice control, streetlights, bridges, street sweeping, sidewalks, street sign, and management of the urban forest including parkway tree trimming and planting.

Snow and Ice Control


Public Works personnel prepare for snow control through year-round training, salt deliveries and vehicle preparation. Snow and ice responsibilities include de-icing and clearing arterial, collector and residential roadways, certain sections of public sidewalks, bus stops, the train station and Village owned buildings and properties. 

Public Works is not responsible for the maintenance or snow control on County or State owned roadways or right-of-ways. These roadways include:

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) 847-705-4222 
  • Dundee Road (Route 68)
  • Elmhurst Road (Route 83)
  • Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21)
  • McHenry Road (Route 83)
  • Palatine Road (Route 68)
  • Wolf Road (Manchester North to Milwaukee Avenue; South of Marquardt to Camp McDonald Road). 
Cook County Highway Department 847-827-1164
  • Lake Cook Road
  • Schoenbeck Road
  • Hintz Road
  • Camp McDonald Road
  • Buffalo Grove Road
  • Old Buffalo Grove Road
  • Aptakisic Road 
Residents are advised of the following safety tips during the snow season.
  • Stay 100 feet or more behind a snow plow or salt truck.
  • Shovel snow away from fire hydrants near your property for emergency access.
  • Do not place refuse, refuse containers, or any other items, in the street.
Vehicle Parking Restrictions
  • Do not park on any Village street within eight hours after a snowfall of 2 inches or more to allow safe and efficient snow and ice control Public Works. Vehicles in violation of this restriction may be towed.
    Contact the Wheeling Police Department at 847-459-2632 for more information.

Sidewalk Requirements

  • Residents and property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks adjoining or adjacent to their property of snow and ice, by 10:00 AM the day after a snowfall. Property owners are permitted to spread sand, salt or other substances on sidewalks made for the purpose of melting snow and ice.
  • Residents and property owners shall not deposit snow or ice onto any roadway within the Village; instead, deposit snow and ice onto the parkway.
Contact Community Development at 847-459-2620 with any questions concerning snow and ice removal. 

Driveway Snow Shoveling Recommendations 

When shoveling snow at the end of a driveway, place the snow to the right of the driveway (as you face the street) to avoid the snow being pushed back onto the driveway by a snow plow truck. Also, clear a few feet at the edge of the street and curb to the left of the driveway (as you face the street). This will help reduce the amount of snow at the end of the driveway. Refer to the illustrations below.
SnowShovelingDiagram (Mobile)

 Click here to see a map of the sidewalks cleared by the Village of Wheeling.

Parkway Tree Planting

Municipal tree planting occurs between April and June and takes place again between September and November. The program installs several different species of trees to increase the diversity of plant material within the Village.

The number of trees and plant locations subject to this program is determined by available funding and sufficient area within the parkway that can successfully host a 2.5” diameter tree. There may be a considerable waiting period for parkway tree replacements.

Caring For Newly Planted Trees

If you have recently (within the past 5 years) received a new parkway tree, the Village is requesting your assistance in promoting its health and growth.

While watering is key to a tree’s survival, too much water will drown a tree. Trees should receive an average of 1” of water per week from May through September, with manual watering performed only if sufficient rainfall does not occur.

A Treegator bag, which is a slow release watering device, is attached to parkway trees to assist in the watering process during the first year. The gator bags hold approximately 15 gallons of water, released through small holes in the bottom of the bag, slowly draining over a period of 5 to 9 hours. Residents are requested to fill the gator bag once a week throughout the summer. Public Works will remove the bag from the tree during the month of September. 
 

Parkway Tree Maintenance

Parkway tree trimming is performed by Village personnel as well as private contractors during all seasons. Maintaining parkway trees allows for safe pedestrian and vehicular traffic, promotes the health and future growth of individual trees and improves the overall aesthetic effect of the urban forest.

If it is determined that a parkway tree requires removal, the tree and stump will be removed and the area will be restored with dirt and grass seed. Residents are responsible for watering the grass seed.

For information on dead animals, leaves, potholes, sidewalk, signs, streetlights and trees, please visit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).