Snow Plowing

When do plows go onto secondary streets and alleys?

We monitor weather conditions and clear first-attention routes when there are more than 3 inches of snow on the streets. We may send plows onto local roads, depending on temperature and weather forecast.

De-icing material (salt) is typically not applied to local streets. We may salt these streets if there are hills, severe curves or special circumstances in the city.

Plowing techniques clear roads faster

We continue to enhance our winter operations program. Our goal is to deliver the highest level of service to the community. Plow operators will continue to use deicing materials on major streets to combat snow and ice. We will apply calcium chloride to bridges, hills and curves before a snow event when conditions warrant.

Plow trucks have liquid storage capabilities. This allows for the pre-wetting of salt as plows spread it on street surfaces. This pre-wetting method allows material to stick to road surfaces. Where distributed, it produces a bouncing effect, resulting in quicker activation. Pre-wetting salt has proven to reduce the amount of salt used by as much as 30 percent, saving us money.

Less salt used during the winter furthers our sustainability goals. The environmental impact is lower on our rivers and streams when salt isn’t used. We have installed side wings on many of our snow plow trucks. These wings extend off the right side of the truck. When stretched out, these wings plow an additional half lane of snow. This has further improved snow plowing efficiencies.