With the winter driving season right around the corner, the city of Bonney Lake has released the following plan for snow removal:

City Public Works crews will clear snow from priority roads first. Priority roads include those around hospitals, schools, main arteries, and on hills. We try to have all roads cleared as quickly as possible. We treat a snow storm as an emergency and overtime is started as soon as it is needed. All available trucks are put to work. Priority roads take precedence and other streets (residential and dead-end streets) will be cleared when conditions allow. Sanding starts when two inches of snow build up on the street or, on streets with steep slopes, just before a major storm arrives. Sand is generally applied only on hills and at intersections. Generally, snow plowing starts when four or more inches of snow accumulate on streets, when continuing snowfall is projected, or when unsafe conditions exist.

Residents and Drivers Can Help Themselves by Using the Following Information:

Park all vehicles, trailers, and boats off of streets, until the snow is removed. Ridges of snow around vehicles parked on streets will freeze and prevent or slow down future snow removal and may cause accidents when any vehicle hits them.

Clear snow from side walks as soon as possible, but not later than 12 hours after snow has ceased to fall. This is to prevent the snow from turning into an icy hazard for pedestrians, or forces them to walk in the street.

Do not place snow removed from driveways or sidewalks onto the street.

Aim snow blowers into front yards away from sidewalks, the park strip and the street. Ice and rocks, as well as powder snow are blown out many feet. This material can hit parked or passing cars, which can cause damage to those vehicles as well as possible accidents. Also, snow blown onto the street will freeze and become a slick spot, which may easily cause accidents.

Place snow, shoved into your driveways by snow plows, onto the area between your sidewalk and curb, the park strip; but, not into the street or gutter. Otherwise, if this pile of snow is shoved back into the street, it will freeze and become hidden by new snow. Then, when snowplows or other vehicles hit that pile of ice, they can be shoved back into the traffic lanes and can easily hit passing or parked cars. Also, placing this snow into the gutter will slow down or block drainage.

Give sand spreader and snowplow vehicles plenty of room. Don’t follow too closely – equipment could slide sideways or backwards at any time. Don’t pass these vehicles if you can avoid it. Be patient.

Drive Defensively. Salt/sand trucks will generally only be used on hills and intersections. Other areas will remain icy. Slow down and increase distance from the vehicle in front of you. Four wheel vehicles may help gain traction initially; but, once you start sliding 4-wheel vehicles are no better then any other.

Volunteer your services. Help your neighbors who can’t clear their own driveways and sidewalks.

Remove snow from around fire hydrants near your home to help save lives and property.

Clear snow from around mailboxes. Sometimes snowplow crews do not get snow plowed all the way to the curb or block the mailbox. This will help keep mail delivery vehicles from blocking traffic and help prevent accidents.

If you have any questions, please call the Bonney Lake Public Works Department at 253-447-4341.