City of Bend dusts off its winter equipment, getting ready for snowy streets; Les Schwab Tires offers advice
(Update: Adding video, comments by city staff, Les Schwab Tire Centers store manager)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- ODOT isn't the only agency keeping busy preparing for snowy winter roads. The city of Bend is also starting its winter preparations.
"The shop is actually getting our equipment all fitted," Streets Division Manager Chuck Swann said Monday. "We're almost complete getting all the plow mounts on the center boxes and the mag tanks put in our trucks."
The Transportation and Mobility Department staff is currently undergoing winter operations training. The city has 18 snowplow operators per shift and 30 pieces of equipment, including a mini-sweeper the city purchased last year.
"As the snow melts off, we'll come in with these sweepers and will pick up the sand that was - migrates over into the bike lanes," Swann said.
While the city is making sure to keep the roads clear, Les Schwab Tire Centers is urging drivers to get the right tires for the winter season.
Bend store manager Steve Curtiss said, "We have many options. We have a studless snow tire, winter traction tire available. We also have studded, but kind of depends on the driving you do and how you drive."
November 1 was the first day Oregonians could legally start putting on studded tires.
But Curtis said safe driving in the snow requires more than just tires.
"Biggest thing I have is just being confident in the snow," he said. "And of course, having the right tires is probably the key benefit to being confident - in having the right tires. We'll help you choose those tires, whether it's studless winter snow tire, a studded snow tire or a tracked all-weather tire."
To see which routes will get plowed first, the city's winter street priority map can be found at bendoregon.gov/snow.
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Here's the city's recent news release on this year's summer street work and winter preparation:
BEND - The City of Bend’s 2024 Street Preservation Program has wrapped up after City street crews and contractors improved 59 lane miles (about 6%) of Bend’s approximately 936 lane miles of roads for about $4.7 million.
With the City’s ‘keep good roads good’ philosophy, work focused on using the right treatment at the right time to provide the most cost-effective way to maintain public Final striping and painting will be taking place over the next week.
In a Friday news release, the city said Bend's street preservation this season included:
- Paving contract with Knife River Corporation - Northwest (16 lane miles) – Old asphalt is ground out and replaced on the existing roadway. Paving occurred on some busy streets including Division Street, Butler Market Road, Reed Market Road, Bear Creek Road, NW 12th Street.
- Slurry seal contract with Doolittle Construction, LLC (22 lane miles) – A treatment for low-volume residential streets.
- Chip seal contract with One Way Trigger, LLC (21 lane miles) – An asphalt emulsion and rock are applied to streets.
“This work helps extend the life of our roads that are vital to our community. We thank everyone for their patience this construction season,” said Streets & Operations Project Manager Paul Neiswonger.
As seasons shift, the Transportation and Mobility Department is getting ready for winter operations and is asking everyone to do their part to prepare for winter. Learn what to expect during the winter in Bend at bendoregon.gov/winter.
The City’s resources are set for the average winter, but the occasional extreme storms can be challenging. The City has 18 snow plow operators per shift and 30 pieces of equipment. The equipment ranges from light-duty pickups to medium-duty dump trucks to heavy-duty (two motor graders) with snowplows.
The City prioritizes plowing and sanding on the highest-use streets that accommodate the most drivers, major employment areas, schools and transit routes. The City’s winter street priority map at bendoregon.gov/snow illustrates which routes get plowed first.
Crews prioritize plowing main arterials as “Priority One” for emergency vehicle access and the traveling public, also focusing on routes to the Hospital, transit routes, employment centers, government facilities, and schools (if class is in session).
“Priority Two” streets are typically main collector streets connecting to the arterials and include business centers, medical facilities, safe routes to school, transit routes, connecting neighborhoods, etc. Residential streets are typically done last and may be supported with contracted crews.
With 165 lane miles of main arterials, 80 lane miles of collectors and 691 lane miles of local residential streets, crews cannot plow and sand all roads at the same time and must follow this prioritized plan.
