City of Tulsa Winter Weather Update Feb. 23, 2022 – 10:30 a.m.

2/23/2022

The City of Tulsa is responding to a winter weather event moving through the area today and tomorrow.      

City of Tulsa street crews started 24-hour response starting around midnight this morning. Crews are working 12-hour shifts throughout the event. Brine (salt/water mix) was used overnight to pre-treat the roads, with crews having turned to salt application this morning. Plows are at the ready and may be utilized this afternoon if further sleet buildup occurs.  

It’s asked drivers give plenty of room between their vehicles and the City’s truck-mounted salt spreaders and other heavy equipment.   

More information on the City’s snow and ice response can be found below. 

Operational Updates and Closures  

Most City facilities are open today, but adjustments could be made to normal operations as the weather event continues.   

• City Hall is open today, with most services under normal operations except for the Permit Center, which is closed for in-person business today and tomorrow. Permit Center staff will continue to take calls during business hours. Inspections will not occur and will resume when weather conditions improve. To reach the Permit Center, call (918) 596-9456 or visit them online at www.cityoftulsa.org/Permitting. 
• The City of Tulsa Mulch Site at 2100 N. 145th E. Ave. is open today.   
• The City’s Household Pollutant Collection Facility (HPCF) at 4502 S. Galveston Ave. is open today.    
• Bulky waste will be delayed by one week for each service day that employees are relegated to winter weather response.  
• Example: If you have a bulky waste scheduled for this Thursday, it will be picked up next Thursday instead.  
• In addition, intergovernmental services, (illegal dumping, dead animal pickup, etc.) will be delayed until after the crews are released from winter weather response. 
• Refuse and recycling is scheduled to be picked up today and haulers will make every attempt to run their routes. If it becomes unsafe, collections will resume when conditions permit. It’s asked Tulsa customers be patient and crews will run their routes when it is safe to do so. 
• Municipal Court is open today during normal business hours.  
• Tulsa Parks community centers are open today during normal business hours.  
• Tulsa Animal Welfare is open today during normal business hours.  

Warming Stations and Safe Housing
Three warming stations are open in Tulsa for individuals and families seeking shelter from the cold. 

• John 3:16 Mission | 506 N. Cheyenne | Open 24/7 
• The Salvation Army Center of Hope | 102 N. Denver Ave. | Open 24/7  
• Tulsa County Emergency Shelter | 2401 Charles Page Blvd. | Open 24/7 

Housing Solutions has outreach teams moving those experiencing homelessness into shelters while weather and road conditions permit. Local shelters will offer shelter-in-place services, meaning those who visit their shelter will be able to stay there throughout the duration of this winter weather event.  

If you see someone in need of safe and warm housing, you can fill out a Housing Solutions Homeless Street Outreach Request online at https://www.housingsolutionstulsa.org/assistance-request/.  

City’s Snow/Ice Response 
The City of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the Gilcrease Expressway, L.L. Tisdale Expressway and all arterial (main) streets. Other highway segments in Tulsa are the responsibility of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. 

After a snow or ice storm begins, the goal is to make expressways and arterial streets safe and passable as soon as possible.  

These resources are available to attain this goal: 

• 55 truck-mounted salt spreaders 
• 4 truck-mounted Liquid Applicator Systems for brine application  
• 42 truck-mounted snowplows (Of the 55 trucks with spreaders, and 4 trucks with Liquid Applicator Systems) 
• 7 4x4 pick-up trucks equipped with snowplows 
• 3 motor graders for use as plows 
• 210 employees (including drivers and support staff) 
• Approximately 8,500 tons of salt and still receiving material 
• 2 salt brine mixing systems 
  
  

Crews are assigned to 35 specific routes totaling approximately 1,770 lane-miles, which is approximately the same distance as driving from Tulsa to San Francisco. Spreading and plowing routes are prioritized based on traffic counts. Once the main streets are cleared and conditions permit, selected residential streets may be treated based upon traffic and steepness. 

During winter weather response, the first focus is to clear City arterial streets for emergency responders. After arterial streets are clear, the second focus then moves to residential or collector streets near hospitals, schools and areas with steep hills. The following link includes every map and route the City uses for arterial streets, collector streets, schools and steep hills: www.cityoftulsa.org/winterpreparedness