Snohomish says it’s ready for winter weather SNOHOMISH - The city is ready for the upcoming winter weather with a “great” plan, public works manager Mike Johnson said last week.
The biggest improvement in recent years has been the addition of salt to the sand used on icy roadways, Johnson said. The mixture will have a 1:5 ratio of salt to sand.
The city started using salt in its sand last year and it has “helped a ton,” Johnson said.
“It breaks the bond of the ice to the road and allows the ice to melt, break up and go away,” he said.
Johnson also said a new snow plow will be added to the city’s response team, probably this week.
“We’re trying to get some ‘what if’ scenarios built in,” Johnson said, adding that the new plow will be a back-up in case of emergencies or break-downs.
The city’s first priority in winter weather is to keep a minimum network open to provide a transportation system connecting hospitals, fire stations, police stations and emergency rescue units. These priorities are managed with a system of Priority 1, 2 and 3 roads for snow and ice removal and sanding operations.
The city public works department said it will try to anticipate upcoming bad weather conditions and will depend on the police department to help assess the weather and roadway conditions and initiate action outside of normal working hours.
In the case of unforeseen severe winter weather events, a rapid response within 30 minutes is expected to initiate sanding or plowing.
Priority 1 roads are as follows:
• First Street (Second Street intersection to Lincoln)
• Second Street (Covington Court to Pilchuck River)
• Fourth Street (Avenue D to Maple)
• 10th Street (Avenue D to Pine)
• 13th Street (Avenue D to Pine)
• Avenue D (14th Street to First)
• Bickford Avenue (city limits to 14th Street)
• Weaver Road (Bickford Avenue to bottom of the hill)
• Maple Avenue (Second Street to the Pilchuck River)
• Pine Street (Maple Avenue to 10th Street)
• Union Avenue (First Street to Second)
For more information on Priority 2 and 3 roads, go to www.ci.snohomish.wa.us for a copy of the 2012-2013 Snow and Ice Response Plan.
The city considers steep hills “extremely dangerous” and will automatically close the following during severe winter weather:
• Fifth Street from Avenue A to Avenue B
• Union Avenue from Second Street to Third Street
• Tenth Street from Pine Avenue to Maple
The following conditions would warrant a call to City Hall during office hours or the answering service after hours: two or more inches of snow accumulation, observed roadway ice build-up, or hazardous driving conditions.
City Hall can be reached 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at 360-568-3115; a standby answering service is available 24 hours a day at 360-563-2012.
