City Street Department crews worked in 12-hour shifts to clear bridges and intersections over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend after a winter storm moved through the area beginning on Sunday.
“Our guys went out around 7 a.m. on Sunday and have worked pretty much around the clock since,” Public Works Director Keith Henry said today.
In accordance with the City’s Snow and Ice Removal Policy, the teams treated bridges and intersections during the worst of the storm, which they continue to monitor in addition to treating neighborhood residential streets.
“There really isn’t enough snow to plow, but we are treating neighborhood streets and continue to monitor and treat main arterials, intersections and bridges,” Henry said. “As always, we will work as long as necessary to make roads as passable and conditions as safe as possible.”
According to the Tulsa Weather Service, Bartlesville received about an inch and a half of snow.
Snow & Ice FAQ
How does the City determine which streets are treated/plowed?
During snow and/or ice events, the Public Works Department treats bridges, intersections and road as outlined in the City’s Snow & Ice Removal Policy. The policy calls for priority to be given to streets in the following order:
- Major arterial streets
- Collector streets
- Residential streets
Why does the City have a Snow & Ice Removal Policy?
The policy ensures that all City departments are on the same page and that treatment is administered equitably during snow and ice events.
What equipment is used?
The Public Works Department has seven trucks capable of snow plowing and sanding. These trucks are prepped by City staff well in advance — typically in November — for the upcoming season to ensure they are serviced and all equipment is in working order.
Some equipment, such as spreader boxes and snowplows, are detachable; therefore, these pieces of equipment remain detached so the trucks can be used for other work when the additional equipment is not needed.
The number of trucks and the equipment used during an event depends on the amount of accumulation. When minor accumulation is forecast, the trucks are equipped with sand boxes but not snow plows, as the plows can be dangerous to have on the truck if not needed, and only take about 10 minutes to attach if they are needed.
A minimum of two trucks are equipped and used during no or light accumulation. During major events, when significant accumulation is forecast, all seven trucks are utilized.
How does the City determine when the trucks are used?
One staff member is on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week. During snow and/or ice events, the on-call staff member will determine how much additional assistance will be needed based on the severity of the event and call out other staff accordingly. During major events, crews will work 12-hour shifts for as long as needed.
What material does the City use to treat road and bridges?
The City uses a mixture of sand and salt to treat roads and bridges.
Why doesn’t the City use a pre-treatment brine in advance of the storm?
The City does not have the equipment to apply pretreatment, and it would not be cost-effective to purchase the equipment because the brine washes off of the roadway if rain occurs, which is a common event in our area.
Why doesn’t the City just use salt by itself instead of mixing it with the less-effective sand?
Salt is not effective when temperatures fall below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, and sand provides traction during these (and all) events. So a mixture of the two works best to meet the challenging weather conditions in our area.
Who treats highways in Bartlesville during a snow or ice event?
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation owns and maintains highways in Oklahoma, including those in Bartlesville. This includes snow and ice events as well. Highways located in Bartlesville include:
- Highway 75 (Washington Boulevard)
- Highway 60 (Adams Boulevard west of Highway 75)
- Highway 123 (Hensley Boulevard)
Where can I get more information?
See details in the City’s Snow and Ice Removal Policy.