City Street Crews to Work Through the Night and Morning in Preparation for Early Morning Commute

12/14/2020

The City of Tulsa’s Streets Department has been working all day plowing and salting roadways in Tulsa due to the snow storm. Crews will continue to work throughout the night into the early morning ahead of the morning commute.

With the amount of snow and freezing temperatures expected this evening, crews will be utilizing both salt and brine trucks throughout the night. Motorists are advised to stay clear of the roadways if possible. If you have to be out, drive for street conditions and keep distance between your vehicle and snow plows and equipment.

Follow the City of Tulsa on Twitter, @cityoftulsagov for street updates.

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. The following resources were available at the beginning of the winter season to attain this goal:

• 62 truck-mounted salt spreaders
• 4 truck-mounted Liquid Applicator Systems for brine application
• 48 truck-mounted snow plows (Of the 62 trucks with spreaders, and 4 trucks with Liquid Applicator Systems, 48 have plows.)
• 7 4x4 pick-up trucks equipped with snow plows
• 3 motor graders for use as plows
• 210 employees (including drivers and support staff)
• Approximately 9,500 tons of salt 
• 2 salt brine mixing systems

Crews are assigned to 35 specific routes totaling 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 

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.

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