Bend Public Works gears up for big snowstorm, details street plowing priorities for safety, accessibility

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- If city streets aren't plowed when significant snow hits, the accumulated snow and ice can pose serious hazards. For drivers, it can mean costly accidents ... for pedestrians, slips and falls.  

The City of Bend’s Public Works Department says in its winter operations plan that it clears roads with three priorities. 

City Director of Streets and Operations David Abbas said Monday, “Our crew focuses mainly on the Priority 1s -- our main arterials, the main roads. If you think of 27th Street on the east side or Third Street ... while the Priority 2s are the collector roads connecting the neighborhoods into the arterials.

"We also factor in schools, hospitals, medical centers, business centers, transit, that type of thing,” Abbas explained.

Depending on the severity of the storm, the city may call in contractors for Priority 3 roads, "side roads" in the many neighborhoods.

Abbas added that snowfall of less than 2 inches only requires sanding the roads. 

"Sanding rock is to help us as a traction aid," he said, "and we're not sanding everywhere… It's intersections, corner steep hill sections, that type of thing -- you know, problematic areas for safety and traction.”  

Abbas admits one of the most common complaints from Bend residents is plowed snow blocking driveways. 

“We definitely understand the frustration of snowplows putting snow on the sidewalks, particularly if it's an ongoing storm," he said. "If you've already shoveled your sidewalk once, or the 4 a.m. crew comes the  next morning and puts more snow on your sidewalk.

"But really, part of that is us trying to plow curb to curb, to really open the road up for safety, when things do start to fall, that runoff can get to the curb and get to the storm drains,” Abbas said.  

From flurries to a full-on blizzard, Bend Public Works says no matter the level of accumulated snow, there’s a plan in place, from equipment to staffing.

Abbas said: “In the wintertime, we go to five 8s(-hour shifts), with the weather forecast and the snow anticipated tomorrow and on into the weekend. We’re putting chains on vehicles, getting them ready, get the snow plows put on, because we don't run around without the snow plows on, unless we (don't) need to be plowing snow.”

Though Public Works does not increase staffing, during winter hours, they will adjust their work schedules from four 10-hour days to five eight-hour days, to accommodate winter weather conditions. In addition, they will call in contractors to help with snow plowing and removal based on snow buildup and accumulation.