Marlene Feist, 509.625.6505
Friday, January 10, 2020 at 3:25 p.m.
UPDATE January 12, 2020:
The City of Spokane expects to complete work by about 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, on the Full-City Plow initiated at 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening. The plow effort was completed in about two and a half days and met the City’s goal of completing in a full-City plow in 3 days or less.
Crews will continue to work in arterials overnight and in the early morning hours to prepare for the Monday morning commute. Also, additional snow plowing and cleanup will happen tomorrow, as needed, in residential locations around the City.
Original Release, January 10, 2020:
The City of Spokane’s snow response crews have been plowing, sanding, and deicing in arterials since snow began around 8:30 a.m. today. Now, the City is moving to a Full-City Plow, with snow teams moving into the residential areas starting at 5:30 p.m., when the second shift of the day arrives.
City crews will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until they plow all streets within the City. Additional crews from water and wastewater are part of full-City plowing efforts, and between 50 and 60 pieces of equipment will be out working. The City also has planned for the needs of its most vulnerable citizens, with shelters and warming centers equipped to take additional people now and when temperatures are expected to drop next week.
A full-City plow should take about three days to complete. With additional waves of snow expected over the next couple of days, the plow could take longer as crews will need to rework arterials and other locations.
The order that residential routes will be plowed is posted on the City’s web site; this page also includes the City’s plow map, which will be updated with the progress of plows as crews move through the residential areas. The City’s residential plow route map shows the routes.
Vehicles should be parked on the odd side of the street in residential areas to assist plows. Berms are likely in front of cars, even those parked on the odd side of the street. The parking restrictions are intended to allow plow drivers to do a better job of clearing snow in neighborhoods and to complete their work more efficiently.
Plow teams in residential areas will use snow gates to avoid leaving berms at the end of driveways as much as possible. The City has 16 pieces of equipment outfitted with those gates.
Crews will work to plow snow away from the curb to help keep snow away from sidewalks. Snow also may be pushed to center medians in some cases. City crews will plow downtown parking bays overnight Saturday into Sunday. That means vehicles must be out of on-street parking spots between midnight and 6 a.m. Here is a link to a map with available parking options.
The City asks citizens clear a 36-inch pedestrian path on sidewalks. Please assist your neighbors who may need help removing snow from their driveways and sidewalks. Seniors or disabled individuals can call 3-1-1 to connect with resources for shoveling sidewalks.
Don’t blow or shovel snow into the street, but back into your yard. Clear snow off parked cars to allow plow drivers to see them better, and consider clearing snow and ice around mailboxes and storm drains.
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.
