Okay, getting a slow start this morning for a variety of reasons, but here’s a roundup of the closures I’ve received:
– US 195 was closed in both directions due to drifting snow this morning but has been reopened. One of the folks that works in the Spokane Regional Transportation Management Center (SRTMC) took the old highway to get in this morning and said that the winds and drifting caused the snow to reach up to the hood of his car!
– The City of Spokane declared a Stage 2 Snow Emergency, which means City crews will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until they complete a full-City plow that includes all residential areas. The City is calling in contract graders from the private sector to help with the effort.
City crews currently are working in arterials and moving into residential hill routes, those numbered 20 and above on the City’s residential plow route map.
Within six hours, parked vehicles need to be moved off the arterial streets and STA fixed bus routes. And within 12 hours, cars should be parked on the even side of the street in residential areas. Crews will leave berms at the end of driveways in the residential areas. Check the progress of City plows here.
Crews will plow downtown tonight so people will need to watch for center berms in the morning and move their cars. Once the full-city plow is complete, the berms will be removed.
– County road crews are also working 24/7 in 12-hour shifts. Currently, 71 pieces of snow removal equipment are working on emergency routes and primary arterials throughout the county.
After crews finishing plowing/sanding emergency routes and primary arterials, they will move to secondary roads, hilly residential areas, followed by flat residential neighborhoods. For more information click here.
– Speaking of the SRTMC (above), you probably want to check it before trying to drive anywhere today. Not only can you check the live traffic cameras to see what’s happening on your usual route, but the map and alerts on the front page tells you exactly where the trouble spots and closed roads are.