City of Tulsa Crews Reporting to Work this Weekend Ahead of Winter Weather

1/13/2024

Ahead of the winter weather expected in Tulsa this weekend, City of Tulsa brine crews are reporting to work this afternoon to begin applying brine to elevated surfaces. The first shift will report to work Sunday (Jan. 14) morning at 8 a.m. with  predicted snow to start sometime late Sunday morning. Crews expect this event to be heavily snow related and City plows are ready. Crews will remain in 12-hour shifts throughout the event until roads are passable and the weather event has passed. 

Drivers are asked to slow down and keep their distance between themselves and other vehicles on the roadways. 

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

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 trucks mounted with salt spreaders
• Of the 63 trucks with spreaders, 48 have mounted snowplows.
• 4 trucks equipped with liquid applicator systems for brine application with an additional 4 mounted snowplows (total of 52 large snowplows)
• 7 4x4 pick-up trucks equipped with snowplows
• 2 motor graders for use as plows
• 210 employees (including drivers and support staff)
• Approximately 6,500 tons of salt and still receiving material
• 2 salt brine mixing systems with 25,000 gallons of salt brine

Crews are assigned to 36 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 on 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

Warming Stations

• John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne Ave.: open 24-7
• The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave.: open 24-7
• Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St.: open 24-7
• Denver Avenue Station, 319 S Denver Ave.
• M-F 5 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
• Sat. 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
• Sun. Closed

Many organizations have setup temporary shelters in addition to the permanent stations above. For individuals interested in volunteering with this effort, visit:  www.housingsolutionstulsa.org/winter-weather-information/ 

Tulsa Ready App
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