Does the "Emergency Snow Route" designation mean anything?

[LakeEffect]

Ah, I forgot to actually specify the "Emergency Snow Route" designation I was referring to - it was the one on the front page of City of Oklahoma City | News, not the street signs. Sorry....

Ahh... well, the same rule applies. The routes are designated to give public knowledge, but I don't believe we have an ordinance that regulates them as northern cities do. Some cities or states have laws that make it a crime to be out on the streets unless in an emergency or to be working for emergency services.

[bille]

I work at Tinker and routinely travel up and down Douglas to and from work and over the past several years have noticed how little attention this "snow route" gets. I've often wondered which (if any) do get attention. Seriously, what's the point of having an "Emergency Snow Route" if the road will only get cleared when they get to it?

Some that have commented here have experienced the roads in Moore and I can speak first hand on how quick they are to act. Moore has contractor (Silver Star) that is on top of things and get the roads cleared quick. Shortly after the snow stopped and the winds subsided they were out clearing the streets. In my experience and from what others are saying about OKC and Edmond I think these other towns need to take some notes from what Moore has been doing!

[rcjunkie]

Oklahoma City as approximately 30,000 miles of paved road, the Street Maintenance Division has 30 dump trucks, all fitted with salt/sand spreaders and 15 have front mounted snow plows. It's impossible to clear and sand every street in OKC, and to spend the money for equipment just in case we have another storm of the century would be foolish.

[LakeEffect]

Oklahoma City as approximately 30,000 miles of paved road, the Street Maintenance Division has 30 dump trucks, all fitted with salt/sand spreaders and 15 have front mounted snow plows. It's impossible to clear and sand every street in OKC, and to spend the money for equipment just in case we have another storm of the century would be foolish.

13,000 lane miles of road actually...

[Spartan]

Oklahoma City as approximately 30,000 miles of paved road, the Street Maintenance Division has 30 dump trucks, all fitted with salt/sand spreaders and 15 have front mounted snow plows. It's impossible to clear and sand every street in OKC, and to spend the money for equipment just in case we have another storm of the century would be foolish.

Isn't that the whole point in having "emergency snow route" designations?

[flintysooner]

I agree that the City of Moore's snow removal was very well executed on the west side of I-35 where I drove. Didn't go east so have no idea how it was over there.

I'm still surprised at the work on South 134th. Sunday evening there was a private contractor clearing the plowed drifts that extended too far into the outside lane. In years past I think 134th wasn't even plowed. I really appreciate all the good work on it but I am just surprised. It is nice to have all 4 lanes clear, too.

[Spartan]

I think 134th is starting to build up some high traffic counts, so they may lower the speed limit from 50 mph, but I hope not. I noticed that they recently repaved it when the road wasn't even rough. That tells me that 134th has risen in priority for preemptive repaving before any wear even begins to appear.

[okcmomentum]

I know this is a bit late in the game but last Saturday we were headed south down Council (which is a regional snow route according to the OKC website) in the NW part of the city and it was treacherous from 122nd until you hit 50th. But as soon as you hit 50th, which starts Bethany road responsibility, it was plowed and cleaned down to bare pavement across all 4 lanes, no snow, no ice. Kudos to Bethany! Yes, I know they have a very small area to cover but they sure got things done IMO. It was nice and clear until we hit NW 23rd and it went back to OKC responsibility and then it was terrible again.

I also heard a news story on Channel 9 I believe on Friday that said city crews were only working on the east side of the metro and they were contracting out the west side. We followed a road grader home back north on Council Saturday evening but they only plowed one lane.

[LordGerald]

I agree that the City of Moore's snow removal was very well executed on the west side of I-35 where I drove. Didn't go east so have no idea how it was over there.

I'm still surprised at the work on South 134th. Sunday evening there was a private contractor clearing the plowed drifts that extended too far into the outside lane. In years past I think 134th wasn't even plowed. I really appreciate all the good work on it but I am just surprised. It is nice to have all 4 lanes clear, too.

I looked at the route map and South 134th is double-covered. It's a state highway, so it's under both ODOT's and Moore's clearing responsibilities. The way Moore's routes are lined up, it looks like they took their plow street to street until they were all clear, while ODOT probably did a sweep through on Highway 37. Good job to both entities.

[Spartan]

SW 134th is in OKC city limits from Santa Fe all the way to the Canadian River. Most of the new neighborhoods being built along 134th are OKC limits.

[LordGerald]

SW 134th is in OKC city limits from Santa Fe all the way to the Canadian River. Most of the new neighborhoods being built along 134th are OKC limits.

That's true. But the designated snow route of S.W. 134th is Highway 37 from Highway 62 on the west to Highway 77 on the east, and the bulk of that route is in the city of Moore.

[Spartan]

So Moore is the one plowing the portions west of Santa Fe?