City Staff, Snowplows Ready for Weekend Snow Forecast

November 13, 2014

City staff, snowplows ready for weekend snow forecast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

With arctic cold and snow in the forecast for the weekend, City's Public Works staff are preparing for the task of plowing area roadways and have added different roads to the primary snow route while reprioritizing some routes from the A route list to the B route list.

Also different this year, snowplow drivers will also work in quadrants, focusing on 10 individual areas, rather than plowing streets from end to end. This will allow crews to get to side streets more quickly, says Superintendent of Streets Ron Bailey.

Major roadways such as arterial and collector streets have priority. In addition to the routes plotted on the map available for download below, Public Works will again plow around all elementary school drop-off and pick-up zones.

“Last year, we worked the elementary schools into our plowing routes to help bus drivers and parents get children to school safely,” Bailey says. “This year, we are adding them to our planned routes.”

Public Works coordinates snow removal on 675 lane miles of high-priority emergency routes.

But, even with plowing crews working around the clock, not all streets can be cleared. During normal snow and ice occurrences, Public Works does not clear local residential streets. Citizens can do their part, however, to help Public Works service the City's infrastructure in an efficient way.

The department's Traffic Engineering staff offers the following winter weather
driving tips:

Signal outages

·         Treat signalized intersections with a power outage as you would an all-way-stop.

·         Slow down and prepare to stop when approaching ALL intersections, but especially when police officers are directing traffic or when Public Works and City Utilities repair crews and vehicles are in or near the roadway.

Vehicle control during snow and ice

·         Winterize your vehicle by checking antifreeze and tire pressure. It is a good idea to carry a windshield de-ice (some washer fluid includes de-icer). Clear vehicle windows of snow and ice and allow the vehicle to warm up and allow for a clear view before moving the vehicle.

·         If you live in a hilly area or have a steep driveway, park your vehicle on level ground. Vehicles can slide after being parked on an incline. Possibly carry some sand for traction with you for use when needed to improve traction.

·         On wet and icy surfaces, use vehicle controls as smoothly as possible. Do not over use the brake, gas or steering wheel and do not use them abruptly. Maintain a greater distance than normal to other vehicles.

·         Always slow down well in advance when approaching a stop sign or signal-controlled intersection. Even with a green traffic signal, be prepared to stop.

·         Be extremely careful when crossing over bridges and storm water culverts as moisture freezes quicker on these structures.

·         When making a turn, wait for your car to straighten out and regain stability before accelerating.

·         If you encounter a car crash with emergency responders at work, slow down and pay attention to the roadway as many crashes occur when motorists take their eyes off of the road to look at the crash.

As always, City officials remind citizens that the best advice for driving in bad conditions is not to drive at all. If you can, stay home.

The Springfield Police Department also has winter driving safety tips posted online at: http://www.springfieldmo.gov/470/Driving-in-Snow-Ice

Zim Schwartze, director of Springfield/Greene County Emergency Communications, reminds citizens to use good judgment when deciding to call 9-1-1.

"Particularly in the event of a severe weather situation, if you need Police, Fire or EMS, use a common sense approach in deciding when to call. We want to make sure we have resources available for those true emergencies," Schwartze said.

For more information, please contact Ron Bailey 417-864-1136.

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