SNOW UPDATE

 

City Declares Stage 2 Snow Event

Will Complete Full-City Plow

Work under way on arterials & residential hill routes

Release Date: 1/7/2013 11:00:00 AM

MEDIA CONTACTS: Marlene Feist 509.625.6740 or Ann Deasy 509.625.6318

Spokane Mayor David Condon is announcing that the City of Spokane is upgrading its snow declaration to a Stage 2 Snow Event, which means City crews will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until they complete a full-City plow that includes all residential areas. The City is calling in private contract graders to help with the snow removal effort.

The City has about 50 plows, sanders, de-icers, and graders out working to improve driving conditions now. City crews currently are working in arterials and in residential hill routes 22, 23, and 24—essentially Indian Trail, Five Mile, and the Eagle Ridge area. They are using teams of plows and graders in the residential areas. Crews will leave berms at the end of driveways in the residential areas.

By 11 a.m. today, parked vehicles need to be moved off the arterial streets and STA fixed bus routes. By 6 p.m., vehicles should be parked on the even side of the street in residential hill routes (those numbered 20 and above on the residential plow route map. In the remaining residential areas, parked vehicles need to be moved to the even side of the street by 11 p.m.

Parking also is restricted downtown between 2 and 6 a.m. during a Stage 2 Snow Event to assist with plowing there. Remember, Browne’s Addition is plowed on an announced schedule with specialized parking restrictions. Watch for later updates.

Check the progress of City plows. Citizens also can call the City’s recorded Snow Removal Hotline at 456-2666 for information on the location of plows. Citizens can be notified of updated information by following the City on Twitter or by liking the City’s official Facebook page.

When driving in these wintry conditions, the City is asking motorists to slow down, be patient, and drive according to the conditions. Don't follow plows closely, and please do not try to pass plow trucks; it is very dangerous.

Under the City’s snow removal plan, officials can call for a Stage 1 Snow Event when there is at least 2 inches of snow on the ground and 4 or more in the forecast. A Stage 2 Snow Event, which includes a full-City plow of all arterial and residential streets, is triggered when there are 6 inches of snow on the ground and more anticipated.

Please assist your neighbors who may need help removing snow from their driveways and sidewalks. And don’t blow or shovel snow into the street, but back into your yard. That will prevent more snow and ice from being pushed onto sidewalks and the end of driveways by City plows.

The City also asks that citizens clear snow off of parked vehicles and from around fire hydrants, storm drains, and mail boxes.

Restricting parking during snow removal efforts allows plow drivers to clear away more snow, widening the area available for vehicles and generally improving driveability. In the residential areas, parking on one side of the street also allows plow drivers to move away from the curb, reducing the amount of snow and ice that ends up on sidewalks and at the end of driveways.