City in Full-City Plow, Focusing on Primary Arterials

Kirstin Davis, Communications Manager, 509.625.7773

Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 11:52 a.m.

Because of the ongoing heavy snow, City crews will focus on arterials and hills repeatedly to keep them clear. A full-City plow is underway and it is estimated crews will get into residential areas Thursday morning, Dec. 1. 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 will be part of full-City plowing efforts. Under the City’s snow response plan, a full-City plow reaching all 2,200 lane miles of streets should take about three days to complete once it stops snowing.

The order for plowing residential routes are posted on the City’s web site; this page also includes the City’s plow map, which will be updated with the progress of the plows. The City’s residential plow route map shows the routes.

Plow teams in residential areas will use snow gates to reduce berms at the end of driveways as much as possible. The City has 19 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. Plowing in the downtown has not yet been scheduled.

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.

ALERT: Due to the overwhelming number of requests, My Spokane 311 is no longer able to refer senior and disabled residents who need assistance with residential snow removal. Residents are encouraged to help their neighbors, friends and family who are not able to clear their sidewalks and driveways.

Here’s how the community can help:

  • 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.
  • The City asks residents and businesses to clear a 36-inch pedestrian path on sidewalks. Please assist your neighbors who may need help removing snow from their driveways and 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