City of Lee's Summit Continues to Plow and Treat Streets from the Blizzard while Preparing for Next Storm Event expected Dec. 30
12.29.09
City Continues to Plow and Treat Streets from the Blizzard while Preparing for Next Storm Event expected Dec. 30
By Melissa Bedford Fears
Public Communications Coordinator
As the City of Lee’s Summit continues to plow and treat streets in the aftermath of the blizzard of 2009, the City prepares for additional snow to fall in the City this week and weekend.
Although accumulations are expected to be more manageable than the heavy snowfall that blanketed the City last week, the City is still preparing crews to engage in a 24-hour operations program to clear roadways.
Last week, Lee’s Summit was hit by rain on December 24 that quickly turned into sleet and eventually snow which kept falling in the City on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, December 26 and December 27. The intense four-day storm was Lee’s Summit’s first blizzard since 1982.
The National Weather Service forecasts snow likely around midnight tonight with one to two inches possible continuing into the day on Wednesday. The next chance of snow is Saturday night with a 30 percent chance of precipitation.
This week’s forecast is a sharp contrast to last week’s blizzard conditions, where the City received more than 9 inches of snow off and on from the night of December 24 to the morning hours of December 27 and reported winds of 20-30 miles an hour with gusts up to 41 miles per hour.
During the blizzard, City crews worked continuous two, 12-hour shifts to plow and treat snow-covered streets, which included staff from Public Works, Codes Administration, and Water Utilities. The City’s Fleet Division staff worked around the clock to repair equipment as needed. The intensity and duration of the winter storm that began last Thursday afternoon was very challenging to City forces. The high winds created snow drifting problems the City’s main arterial road system, which meant that these roads had to be plowed up to five times before crews could turn their attention to plowing and treating collectors, residential streets, and cul-de-sacs in the community.
The City Public Works Operation division monitors weather events closely in order to be ready to plow and treat all 976 lane miles of City plowed streets within 32.5 hours after the precipitation ends under normal weather conditions. During blizzard conditions, as we experienced last week, the time it takes to clear a street is longer based on weather conditions.
Crews prioritize the removal of snow from streets in the following manner:
■Arterial routes within the first four hours after the precipitation ends
■Collector routes within 12 hours after the precipitation ends
■Residential streets and cul-de-sacs within 32.5 hours after the precipitation ends
Crews are staffed 24 hours a day during snow and ice events and work on 12-hour rotating shifts during the week, weekends, and holidays. A new feature, this year, is that during daylight hours additional crews of office staff will plow cul-de-sacs and dead end streets during and following precipitation. This was made possible by the upgrade of eight compact trucks to ¾ ton pickup trucks equipped with snow plows. City crews are able to maneuver in and out of cul-de-sacs easier than with the larger snow plow trucks. The City has 998 cul-de-sacs to plow and treat per snow or ice event.
Two salt domes are stocked with 6,000 tons of salt in preparation for this year’s winter weather.
The City primarily uses 100% salt to treat ice and snow events, but may use a salt/sand mix if conditions warrant. Salt is also used to make salt brine to place on the pavement before a winter storm arrives. The brine acts as a barrier between the pavement and snow and ice.
Residents Can Help with Snow Removal:
■Although the City doesn’t have an emergency snow ordinance that prohibits parking on the street, it is helpful to remove all vehicles from streets to prevent a delay in clearing roadways.
■Shovel snow to the right side of your driveway, as you face the street. This will lessen the amount of snow left at the entrance of your driveway by the snow plow.
It is also helpful to remember the City does not clear private streets, shopping areas, and certain private neighborhoods.
For more information about the City’s Snow Removal Policy as well as snow removal updates, contact the Snow Desk (816) 969-1870. Stay up-to-date on weather conditions, by listening to radio, watching television weather casts, and going on-line.
Download 2009 City Snow Map (600 KB)
Copy & paste into your browser: http://cityofls.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=bD6pVMQCQ6Y%3d&tabid=981
Download 2009 Snow Maps by District (10 MB)
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