City of Tulsa Winter Weather Update March 11, 2022 – 9:35 a.m.

3/11/2022

This morning, the City of Tulsa is continuing with snow removal and road treatment operations.

Streets crews are working 12-hour shifts and started yesterday evening applying brine (salt/water mix) to pre-treat the roads. Treatment moved to salt application early this morning, and since, crews have started snow plowing. Afternoon crews will report back today at noon to continue snow-plowing operations, and brine crews will report back at midnight to address any refreeze that may occur.

Drivers are asked to take it slow and give City crews 150-200 ft. clearance. More information on the City’s snow and ice response can be found below.

Operational Updates
As of this morning, most City of Tulsa Friday services remain unaffected. City staff will continue to monitor conditions and updates will be provided as warranted.

Because certain crews are being relegated to snow and ice response, Bulky Waste pick-ups will be delayed by one week. Dead animal pick-up and illegal dumping operations will continue as normal, and the Mulch Site will remain open. Refuse and recycling pick-up is scheduled for Friday, but service evaluations are ongoing.

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
• 39 truck-mounted snowplows (of the 55 trucks with spreaders))
• 7 4x4 pick-up trucks equipped with snowplows
• 3 motor graders for use as plows
• 210 employees (including drivers and support staff)
• Approximately 7,500 tons of salt
• 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

Want to receive updates on emergency weather information and create a disaster plan for your family? Download the free Tulsa Ready App, compatible with Android and iOS systems. For information on City of Tulsa winter storm operations, contact Senior Marketing & Media Relations Officer Carson Colvin at (918) 949-1356.