KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Road crews across the metro have hit the streets again for a dangerously cold winter storm this week.
Kansas City, Missouri crews have been plowing the major roads and have been working around the clock to remove the snow.
City officials say crews assigned to residential streets will plow those areas as needed.
Kansas City, Missouri puts phase one of its winter storm watch in effect when streets are slick. Phase one of the emergency snow ordinance means drivers who get stuck on a major thoroughfare, and who don’t have snow tires or chains on their vehicles tires, can be ticketed.
When city officials implement phase two of the emergency snow ordinance, cars parked on designated snow routes will be ticketed two hours after the phase is implemented.
Kansas City, Missouri crews will remove snow and ice from about 900 miles of major routes, and apply salt and plow on more than 1,800 miles of residential routes.
Residents of Kansas City, Missouri can call the city’s Action Center by dialing 311, or (816) 513-1313 for assistance. Requests for removal of tree limbs from the rights-of-way should be directed to the 311 Action Center.
Overland Park, Kansas officials also plow and treat city streets based on their traffic volume. Streets with heaviest volume are treated first.
City officials say they try to minimize blocking driveways with plowed snow, but it is sometimes unavoidable. It is the responsibility of property owners to clear their own driveways and driveway approaches.
Overland Park doesn’t have designated emergency snow routes, but vehicles may be towed if they interfere with normal snow removal operations.
Overland Park began using beet juice to treat streets last year. Beet juice is less expensive, corrosive and harmful to the environment than calcium chloride, which currently is used to treat streets.
When temps drop below 20 degrees, a liquid form of calcium chloride is sprayed on rock salt to ensure efficiency when salt alone is ineffective. Sand also is used.
The beet juice, which is mixed with liquid magnesium chloride, will be tested on thoroughfares south of 143rd Street, east of Antioch Road, and on residential streets between 119th and 135th streets, from Quivira to Switzer; 135th to 143rd streets, Quivira to U.S. 69; and 175th to 203rd streets, Lackman to U.S. 69.
