Snow and Ice Response Program

Transportation Services Division/
Street Maintenance Section

Public Works Dispatch Center at 503-588-6063

What is the Snow and Ice Response Program?

This program, recognized as one of the most effective in our region, is designed to provide the best use of limited resources to maximize the movement of traffic within our community during winter weather. During storm events, we focus on clearing major arterial and collector streets first, then begin responding to residential connector streets, school zones, transit routes, and steep residential streets as resources become available. These areas are segregated into response plans (A, B, and Hot Spots) and are adjustable depending on accumulations of snow and/or ice, resources available, or time of day and flow of commuter traffic. During major events with heavy accumulations, however, we cannot guarantee that any street will be passable at any one time and motorists must be responsible for deciding to drive in these conditions. Our equipment will stay on the Plan A routes (especially steeper streets) until heavy accumulations have subsided, then move on to Plan B routes. We would like to respond to every street, but this is logistically impossible.

Response Plans

• Plan A—All major arterial streets (highest priority).
• Plan B—Collector streets, steep residential connector streets (typically Transit routes).
• Hot Spots—Areas prone to black ice or frost formation.

Tandem plowing and sanding on Commercial Street SE.		Tandem plowing and sanding on Kuebler Boulevard SE.

The "Hot Spots" routes are proactive in dealing with black ice and frost events that commonly occur during cold weather spells. Isolated areas in our community are prone to ice or frost formation on the street surface under certain conditions each winter. Typically these areas receive little sun or wind due to tree canopies, north facing, steep terrain, near bodies of water, bridges, etc., and, therefore, street surfaces can remain damp. When forecasts predict freezing temperatures and streets are relatively dry, when possible, we apply anti-icing liquid to these selected streets the day/night before to inhibit ice formation. This anti-icing agent can become ineffective, however, if there is too much moisture, such as running water, high humidity, unexpected showers, etc. There are times when rain showers can end abruptly and skies clear, giving way to freezing conditions before we can respond with our resources—sometimes affecting localized areas, other times the entire community. We urge motorists to always drive with care during the winter months and be on the lookout for unexpected changes in street conditions.

The City of Salem also has Exchange-of-Service agreements with Marion County, Polk County, and the Salem Maintenance Section of ODOT that allows us to swap portions of routes adjoining areas already served by other agencies. This improves effectiveness of response for all agencies.

All inquiries or reports of snow and ice accumulations on city streets, downed trees and/or power lines, etc., should be directed to the Public Works Dispatch Center at 503-588-6063.