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Snow removal in Lakewood is one of the major responsibilities of the City's Public Works Department. The department has a very difficult job to do - trying to keep the 490 miles of Lakewood streets safe for vehicle traffic during, and immediately after snowstorms, at a reasonable cost to the taxpayers, and with a concern for the environment.
The Public Works Department has developed a comprehensive snow plan that outlines the network of streets that will be kept open and maintained except under very unusual conditions. The snow plan is intended to help organize snow removal operations and keep traffic moving through the community.
THE SNOW PLAN
The snow removal plan sets the following priorities:
Priority One:*
Arterials, and major collector streets
Priority Two and Three:*
Minor collector streets, school areas, hilly residential streets, shopping areas.
Residential Streets
Residential streets are plowed only when snow depth seriously impedes vehicle
mobility and melting is not forecast to occur quickly.
*To view maps of priority snow removal streets, visit our EZMaps portal
here. (You may be asked to download the free Flash application, though most
computers have it installed)
1. On the portal page, right-side column, click the blue EZMaps logo.
2. Above the map window, in the "Address Information" box, select
"Snow Plow Routes" from the drop-down menu.
3. A citywide map of snow plow routes appears in the map window, with additional
information about priority streets in the legends window.
4. Select the "+" or "-" buttons in the upper left corner,
then mouse over the map and click to zoom in or out on specific areas of the
city.
SNOW PLAN OPERATION
City crews begin plowing and/or sanding "priority one" streets as
soon as snow begins to accumulate on the pavement surface. After the priority
one streets have been adequately covered, crews move to priority two and three
streets. This rotation continues until the snowfall has stopped and all priority
streets have been plowed and sanded to an acceptable level. Priority routes
are routinely plowed and sanded during each snowstorm. Sanding is done to provide
traction and is normally done only at intersections, on hills and curves, or
in special problem areas. Once all priority one, two and three streets are in
good shape, residential streets are plowed when snow depth seriously impedes
vehicle mobility and melting is not forecast to occur quickly.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Ice Removal
Sometimes a heavy snow and/or continued freeze and thaw cycles will cause a
buildup of ice on the gutters or crosspans of a street. When this happens, city
crews will remove the ice on a complaint basis, as equipment availability allows.
Sidewalk Snow Removal
Residents are responsible for clearing all snow from their sidewalks within
24 hours of the end of a storm. Please pile the snow on your yard, not in the
street. The City also clears snow from more than 80 miles of bikepaths and sidewalks
in various areas of the City.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How much money is spent annually on City snow removal?
Approximately $985,000 is spent annually by the City on snow removal in Lakewood.
This is about $7.00 per person each year.
Why doesn't the City clear the windrow of snow left in driveways after the
plows go by?
With more than 40,000 driveways in the City, it would be extremely expensive
and unrealistically time consuming to clear each driveway after streets are
plowed. Residents and business owners are expected to clear their own driveways.
Why not plow the snow to the center of the street?
Snow windrows melt during the day, drain across the traffic lanes and then refreeze
at night, creating slick and hazardous streets again and again. This constant
freeze-thaw cycle from melting windows greatly accelerates street pavement failures,
leading to potholes, pavement cracking, etc. Also, left turns onto driveways
and other property entrances would be severely restricted if snow was piled
in the center of streets.
What materials are used by the City for snow and ice control?
In most snowstorms, the City spreads a mixture of 40% salt (sodium chloride)
and 60% sand on City streets.
This winter (2008-09), the city will be implementing an anti-icing /deicing strategy on several major streets. This strategy involves spraying a light application of liquid anti icing material on streets prior to snow developing. This anti-icing material prevents snow from bonding to the pavement, and makes plowing more effective. Once snow does begin to accumulate, streets will be treated with a solid deicing product that will melt the snow and provide traction. Except in very heavy or cold snow events, sand will not be used on the streets scheduled for anti icing/deicing, which include all of Jewell Avenue, Alameda Avenue and Union Boulevard.
For additional information, contact:
City of Lakewood
Public Works Maintenance
850 Parfet Street
Lakewood, Colorado 80215
303-987-7950
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