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City of Walla Walla, WA
Public Works Department SNOW REMOVAL POLICIES
Policy for Winter Salting
Operations
Snow Plowing Policy
Snow Plowing Instructions
Snow Loading And Hauling Instructions
Snow Plowing Priority Routes
Policy for Winter Salting Operations
PURPOSE:
To control the accumulation of snow and ice using chemical methods to provide safer conditions for pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
GENERAL:
The salt, (sodium chloride or calcium chloride), is obtained in 80 pound and two ton bags which are stored at the Street Division Corp Yard Warehouse. When the need arises, the appropriate crews are called out for salting. There are four designated salting areas: North Side of Alder; South Side of Alder; priority area #1, (Appendix A); and priority area #2, (Appendix B). There are specific crews and vehicles assigned to each of those areas. Each spreader is loaded with salt. The mechanical spreading device is covered with a tarp to keep the salt from getting wet and caking because of moisture. The vehicle is then driven on the salting routes in the assigned area. The run can be made much easier in the downtown area if the traffic signals are set in the flashing mode so the salting vehicle can continue through the intersections without stopping.
CALL OUT DETERMINATION:
The intent of the salting operation is to place salt immediately prior to a significant snowfall, (at least a half-inch of accumulated snow and forecasted continuing snowfall), or at the time of "black ice", or a glazing snow pack. The operation is initiated by the Public Works Department notifying the appropriate crew or crews. The operation may also be initiated by notification to the Street Supervisor of such a condition, by the Police Department. Preferably these requests should come from an experienced sergeant on duty. Since the conditions may vary depending on the location in the city, the condition is verified by the Street Supervisor prior to calling out the crews. Other specific requests can be made, which will be evaluated by the Street Supervisor as to their necessity.
It takes approximately four hours to complete the salting areas, depending on how slick it is and how much traffic there is. The salting crew should be called out early enough to complete the salting prior to heavy traffic, around 3:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
LOCATIONS:
Salting operations are performed only on the approaches to controlled intersections, (stop signs, yield signs or signals), curves and hills. The length of the approach that is salted depends on the amount of traffic using the approach. Arterials, schools, and emergency routes are given first priority. Other specific locations are at the discretion of the Street Supervisor.
CONDITIONS:
Usually sodium chloride, (rock salt), is used until the temperature reaches 20 degrees fahrenheit. The amount of moisture in the snowfall and the temperature has a direct bearing on the effect of the salt. Below 20 degrees fahrenheit, a mixture of sodium chloride and calcium chloride may be used. Calcium chloride will work, (lower the freezing temperature), to a lower temperature of approximately -30 degrees fahrenheit. Sustained temperatures below 0 degrees generally require the use of straight calcium chloride. Sand is used if a glazed condition exists, with no snow or melting conditions predicted in five day forecast. No inside sand storage exists. Most stockpiles available are frozen, making it extremely hard to obtain and spread as needed. Sanding is done by using 3/8 - 10 chip rock swept up from City chip seals.
When directed by the Street Supervisor, Public Works Director or the City Manager:
1. Begin plowing when snow is predicted to reach a depth sufficient enough to impede emergency vehicles. Generally begin when snow reaches about 4 inches deep and the forecast is for continued snow with predicted depth greater than 6 to 8 inches, depending upon predicted moisture content. Call the Weather Bureau at 522-4636, Extension 1001.
Moisture content of snow is a factor. "Dry", light snow can be over 6 inches to 8 inches deep before becoming a factor. "Wet" heavy snow can be a factor at 4 inches to 6 inches deep.
2. Plow priority routes to keep arterials and emergency service routes open.
3. Every weather situation is different; but, typically 5 - 6 men begin operations at midnight with two plows, grader, and two loaders to clear intersections and other operations in the "down town" or "meter" zone and one or two places in Eastgate area unless there is a risk that the arterials can get clogged, then move to arterials. A day crew consisting of two Park employees and available Street and Sanitation staff continue on arterials. As plowing often "glazes" streets, salting application usually begins at 12:00 a.m. the same night with day shift moving to lesser streets. It takes about 5 days to get through the City one time- PROVIDED snow stops and crews do not have to return to arterials. City crews can clear the Park And Shop lots after snow has stopped falling.
4. Salting follows attached schedule, with more or less the same priority.
Plows will not leave assigned routes or areas unless:
1. Called to help another plow that is stuck. 2. Ordered by the man in charge, (McKinley, Bell). 3. For work relief periods. 4. Police Department calls unless you know it is an emergency, (fire truck, ambulance assist).
Do not chain plows down.
Plow to outside of streets, leaving snow in gutter if walk is right behind curb. Place snow on parking at all other locations.
Push intersections clear on final pass of cross street.
Check tire chains and plow blade height at beginning of each shift. Steel bits to have 1/2 to 3/4 inch free travel above street. Rubber blade to ride on street with weight on shoes.
Clean off lights when needed, especially on rear of unit. Be sure warning lights are clear. Plow with spot lights directed so they do not blind traffic.
Check windshield wipers.
Plow to and from shop area, if possible.
Swing shift have the Police Department call George Bell if you have trouble. Everyone call in for radio check at start of shift.
Report any defects on equipment to man in charge and write on equipment work order. Everyone is to fill out a Street Division time card and place in the box located in the Service Center's Lunch Room.
Snow Loading and Hauling Instructions
Start truck, put hoist in gear to warm oil, sweep off heavy snow, and wait in lunch room for any special instructions.
Loaders will follow same route each night. All loading starts in the City parking lot.
Empty trucks will pull forward to loader even if partly loaded, if not the next truck may not be able to pass you.
Be extra careful backing up. The public does not know what you are going to do.
Keep some salt in the cab and put some in front of the bed when the snow starts to stick. Dump in rows starting at the east end of the old employee parking lot, across Moore Street from Service Center. Loaded trucks pull out anyone who may be stuck.
Use the east and west streets with the lights on flash as much as possible. Do not run red lights.
At the end of your shift check hoist to be sure it goes all the way up. Do all service work away from the gas pump. Pump gas and get out of way as soon as possible.
Two dump trucks with plows will plow the following streets in tandem order of priority:
1. Second Street to Freeway to Pine 2. Pine, (2nd Street to West City Limits) 3. South 9th, (Pine to Plaza Way) 4. Plaza Way to Taumarson Road 5. Tietan Street 6. South 3rd, (Orchard to South of City Limits) 7. Second Street, (Howard to Birch) 8. Second Street, (Sumach to Rose) 9. Howard Street, (All) 10. Rees Street
Continue single plowing the following streets in order of priority:
1. Garrison 2. Cherokee 3. Orchard 4. Chase 5. Dalles Military
One grader and one dump truck will plow the following streets:
1. Rose, (4th to Myra) 2. Myra, (Rose to SR125) 3. Poplar, (6th to Myra Road) 4. Avery, (Rose to VA Hospital) 5. 12th, (Rose to Chestnut), (Fire Station No. 1) 6. Chestnut, (VA Hospital to 2nd) 7. Willow, (Chase to 7th), (St. Mary Hospital) 8. Main, (12th to 6th) 9. 13th, (Rose to Penitentiary) 10. Melrose Street 11. Alder Street, (East of Palouse to City Limits.) 12. School Avenue, (North of City Limits to South of City Limits)
Two dump trucks plow the following streets in order of priority:
1. Isaacs, (Dog Leg to Clinton) 2. Clinton, (North of Isaacs to Freeway) 3. Isaacs to Tausick Way 4. Tausick Way, (The part that is in the City Limits) 5. Alder, (East of Tausick Way to School Avenue) 6. Merrill Road, ( Tausick Way to East Alder) 7. Wellington Avenue 8. Frontage Road 9. Roosevelt, (North and South), Melrose to Whitman 10. Whitman, (Roosevelt to Division) 11. Fern Avenue 12. Pleasant Street 13. Bridge Street 14. Division, (Alder to Bryant) 15. Bryant Avenue 16 Chestnut, (Second to Division) 17. Park, (Howard to Whitman) 18. Whitman, (Park to Howard) 19. Park, (Whitman to Rees) 20. East Main Street, (Palouse to Isaacs) 21. East Rose, (Palouse to Sumach) 22. Sumach, (Rose to Clinton) 23. Alder, (East of Palouse)
When priority routes are clear, plow again if necessary, then move to other streets by zone.