As Official First Day of Winter Approaches, City of Tulsa Prepared for Winter Weather

12/20/2021

With the first day of winter coming next week, the City of Tulsa has been preparing for any potential winter weather this season may bring. The City works closely with the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA) and NWS Tulsa to monitor weather forecasts and conditions to be ready for whenever the first winter storm comes.

The City of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the Gilcrease Expressway, L.L. Tisdale Expressway and all arterial (main) streets. Other highway segments in Tulsa are the responsibility of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

After a snow or ice storm begins, the goal is to make expressways and arterial streets safe and passable as soon as possible. These resources are available to attain this goal:

• 63 truck-mounted salt spreaders
• 4 truck-mounted Liquid Applicator Systems for brine application when appropriate
• 51 truck-mounted snowplows (Of the 63 trucks with spreaders, and 4 trucks with Liquid Applicator Systems.)
• 7 4x4 pick-up trucks equipped with snowplows
• 3 motor graders for use as plows
• 210 employees (including drivers and support staff)
• Approximately 10,000 tons of salt and still receiving material
• 2 salt brine mixing systems

Crews are assigned to 35 specific routes totaling approximately 1,770 lane-miles, which is approximately the same distance as driving from Tulsa to San Francisco. Spreading and plowing routes are prioritized based on traffic counts. Once the main streets are cleared and conditions permit, selected residential streets may be treated based upon traffic and steepness.

During winter weather response, the first focus is to clear city arterial streets for emergency responders. After arterial streets are clear, the second focus then moves to residential or collector streets near hospitals, schools and areas with steep hills. The following link includes every map and route the City uses for arterial streets, collector streets, schools and steep hills: www.cityoftulsa.org/winterpreparedness

Want to receive updates on emergency weather information and create a disaster plan for your family? Download the free Tulsa Ready App, compatible with Android and iOS systems. For information on City of Tulsa winter storm operations, contact Communications Officer Carson Colvin at (918) 949-1356 or Communications Director Michelle Brooks at (918) 637-8225.