Before snow falls in Southern Idaho, the City of Twin Falls would like to remind residents and visitors how we manage winter road maintenance within the City limits, and to ask for the public’s help to ensure that crews can safely clear streets when snow or precipitation arrives. Below is an overview about how the City of Twin Falls prepares, clears and maintains streets during the winter season:

Streets Before the Snow

The Street Department applies de-icing agent before snow or precipitation because the agent needs to permeate the roadway to prevent snow or ice from accumulating, or sticking to the roadway. Drivers may see white “pin striping” on streets that indicates they have been recently treated with de-icing agent. The City Street Department’s shop mixes the de-icing agent according to temperature and precipitation and then applies it with trucks that are fitted with de-icing sprayers.

How Citizens Can Help: this is the best time to check that any storm drains on streets near your home are not covered or clogged. Please do not cover storm drains with snow or ice or debris that may clog storm drains. The storm drains are designed to allow water to flow freely from streets to storm water basins. If they appear to be clogged, please call the City Public Works Department at 208-736-2281. 

It's also important to prepare yourself and your home in the event of a weather emergency. Please ensure that you have proper snow equipment like snow shovels, winter clothing and warm blankets, a supply of water, food and important medications, etc. For a complete list of home preparedness, please visit the Twin Falls County Office on Emergency Management Preparedness Page.

Streets During the Snow

Plow teams are dispatched immediately when snow or ice accumulates on city streets. The City operates 8 plows and sanders to clear about 500 lane-miles of city streets — more than the distance between the City of Twin Falls and the City of Las Vegas! Streets are plowed in order of priority that is determined based on traffic counts, emergency vehicles access, and more. See the street priority map here! [link to map] Main arterial streets - such as Pole Line Road, Blue Lakes Boulevard, Kimberly Road, Washington Street, Shoshone Street, Addison Avenue and many others are arterial streets that receive first priority. Feeder streets, which are generally lower density streets that provide access between arterials and subdivision streets, are second priority. The City does not plow residential subdivisions because the plows throw snow onto sidewalks and driveways, effectively blocking in residents and creating a hazard for homeowners.

During prolonged snow events, the City of Twin Falls will repeatedly plow priority streets until essential roads are cleared. During significant snow events, crews may plow the same high-priority streets multiple times to maintain open access.

How Citizens Can Help: Please remember to stay 50 feet or more behind plows and sanding trucks on the roadway. Also remember that plows must maintain a constant rate of speed to displace snow, and parking, passing, or slowing down in front of a plow forces plow crews to stop plowing. Give plows plenty of space. Please do not park vehicles on roadways where crews need to plow.

Streets After the Snow

Roads are still not in the clear after snow has stopped falling. Plows will continue to clear roadways in order of priority See the street priority map here! [link to map]. Depending on the temperature, there may be water in the roadway. Please do not drive through standing water. And residents should not swim or recreate in stormwater catch basins due to the contaminant run-off from the roadway.

If temperatures remain below freezing, the de-icing agent may be ineffective and ice may accumulate on the roadway. In those cases the city will apply salt and sand on intersections - including residential intersections.

In the event of significant snowfall

• DO NOT PARK ON THE STREET: Snow plows eject snow and debris with significant force, which can cause damage to vehicles parked on the side of the street. If possible, please park in your driveway or another designated parking area. This will help city plow drivers clear streets faster and more effectively without damaging vehicles.
• PLEASE DO NOT SHOVEL SNOW INTO STREET: When clearing snow from driveways, sidewalks and walkways, please dispose of it on a permeable landscaped area such as grass or gravel. This will help the snow melt into the ground and avoid flooding cause by covered or overwhelmed city storm water drains. Locate the stormwater drain nearest your residence, which is typically located along the curbing or gutters on city streets. If drains become clogged or frozen, you can help by clearing snow or ice from the drain.
• BE AWARE OF SNOW MEDIANS: Some streets require plows to move snow to the center of the street — rather than to the curbside. This helps prevent against snow accumulation on sidewalks and flooding of residences and business when the snow melts.
• SIGN UP FOR CITY ALERTS: Please sign up for alerts from the City of Twin Falls by selecting the ‘Notify Me’ link on the city’s website at www.tfid.org 

Please call the City of Twin Falls non-emergency dispatch line at 208-735-4357 to report dangerous conditions on roads or intersections. City street workers or officers with the Twin Falls Police Department will evaluate the roadway and dispatch plows and sanders when needed.