Mid City Times

The Street Operations team of the Transportation & Public Works Department is responsible for coordinating winter response for the city's extensive road network and bridges. With over 8,100 lane miles of city roadways and more than 240 bridges to maintain, the team has developed a comprehensive winter weather action plan to ensure that the roads are safe and clear during the colder months.

The team has categorized the road assets into three priority levels, with priority 1 locations being the highest. These priority levels are determined based on factors such as traffic volume, access to interstates, history of icing, and vehicular incidents. Speaking about the winter response plan, a spokesperson for the Street Operations team stated, "The City will first provide service to priority 1 locations on the designated routes before adding service to priority 2 or 3 locations."

When the forecast calls for ice, snow, sleet, or freezing rain, the team places sanding crews on standby. This proactive measure helps to prevent the formation of ice on the roads and ensures that the surfaces are safe for motorists. Emphasizing the importance of these preparations, the spokesperson added, "When the ground is cold enough for precipitation to stick, and the forecast calls for ice, snow, sleet, or freezing rain, sanding crews are placed on standby."

It is worth noting that the winter response plan focuses not only on the roads but also on the bridges. The team has identified certain bridges as critical due to factors such as traffic volume, access to interstates, history of icing, and vehicular incidents. These critical bridges receive priority attention during winter weather events.

It is important to mention that the City does not maintain a fleet of snow plows. However, as the team continues to monitor future weather trends, additional resources may be obtained to enhance the winter response plan. The plan is designed to be flexible and can be revised as needed to meet the evolving needs during winter emergency response. As the spokesperson for the team stated, "Each event is unique, but through effective communication and collaboration, the City can stay flexible to meet evolving needs during winter emergency response."

To learn more about the City's Snow and Ice Plan and the specific measures in place to keep the roads safe and clear, interested individuals can refer to the City's official website and access the plan document provided. With this comprehensive winter weather action plan in place, the Street Operations team is committed to ensuring the safety and convenience of motorists during the colder months.