With winter weather in the forecast, Bend’s Public Works Department has an organized, reasonable and cost effective maintenance plan in place for periods of snow or ice. It involves a small army of more than 40 pieces of equipment and three shifts of personnel and contractors. The average annual snow removal cost is $300,000 in a light snow year and $600,000 or more in a heavy snow year.

As part of that plan, City streets are divided into major collectors and arterials, plus streets that serve schools, medical facilities and major employment centers. These areas are scheduled to receive de-icing first prior to a storm and sanding and plowing when snow accumulation reaches two inches. The goal is to complete the work within 24 hours. Public Works crews and contractors will clear residential streets only after at least six inches of snow has accumulated.

Keep in mind that, in order to clear streets, snow may be plowed onto sidewalks or into driveways in certain areas. Citizens are asked, when necessary, to move snow from the sidewalk to the property side of the walkway, not out into the street. City code requires property owners, or the person in charge of property, to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

For special requests, call the snow removal hotline at 541-317-3002, ext. 7. In an emergency, call 911. For more information, visit the Snow removal link on the City’s home page at http://www.ci.bend.or.us.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Community News, Top Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.