Jeff Humphrey, Media Manager, 509.625.6308
Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 2:36 p.m.
Long before the first snow flies, the Spokane Streets Department is gearing up for winter weather driving conditions.
Right now, crews are hanging plow blades on the same trucks that were repairing our streets during the summer construction season.
“The rest of the crews are doing maintenance, winterizing the equipment and getting the snow equipment installed, in preparation for whenever we have to use it,” detailed Clint Harris, Director, Spokane Streets Department.
Being ready for the first storm includes staging equipment and deicer at satellite yards in the four corners of the city.
“So, those satellite locations allows our plows not to have to come back to one central place, to go refill wherever they are, and that allows for that quicker response,” explained Spokane mayor Nadine Woodward.
For example, at the Northside Landfill, crews are erecting a sand shed so plows can be treating the hills of the Indian Trail - Five Mile area in minutes.
“And so it’s beneficial to have equipment and material across the city, so we can respond quicker to treat the streets, rather than, trying to drive through the city to get to a location,” added Harris.
In the hopes of a quicker response to southern Spokane, Streets is installing new tanks full of ice-melting magnesium chloride at the Central Service Center on north Nelson Street.
The Streets Department has also purchased additional equipment to help with snow removal in our neighborhoods.
“Snow gates.Extremely popular with our residents. And, we have added more snow gates to the system.We’re now up to 19. Those snow gates allows plows to do their job without putting berms on the driveways of residents,” emphasized Woodward.
Look for a map and more information on the city’s Snow Response Plan on-line or, in your November utility bill.
