The City of Twin Falls is no longer operating under a State of Emergency that was authorized as a precautionary measure in the event of significant flooding. Current and forecasted weather conditions have lessened the potential for significant and widespread flooding in Twin Falls; however, the city will continue to monitor weather conditions and respond accordingly. The city is now focusing efforts on repairing damage that was caused by the storm.
City council and staff would like to thank the community for their patience and assistance during the weather event. Many in the community assisted stranded motorists during blizzard conditions; helped homeowners prevent flooding; and assisted the city in clearing storm water drains.
“We took steps to prepare the city in the event that flooding threatened our community’s health and safety, but we’re fortunate that it didn’t reach that magnitude,” said Twin Falls Mayor Shawn Barigar. “During the storm our community demonstrated incredible resilience by aiding others in need, working with our city workers to prevent flooding, and being patient with service disruptions. We are asking the community to continue being patient while we work to repair the damage and restore services to normal operation.”
Significant changes in weather conditions caused some road surfaces to fracture and form potholes that are creating driving hazards. The city has dispatched street crews to patch the potholes, but it is asking drivers to please use caution and be aware of damage that may be covered by pooling water.
Paved roadways are extremely susceptible to the combination of precipitation, freezing, and thawing. Snow and rain will add moisture to the base beneath pavement. When the moisture in the base freezes and then thaws, it expands and contracts — leaving behind a shallow gap between the base and the pavement. The weight of vehicles then causes the pavement to collapse into the gap, which creates a pothole.
“The recent weather pattern was the perfect storm in regards to road fatigue,” said Dean Littler, City of Twin Falls Street Superintendent. “We received a lot of snow and rain, and then it was followed by freezing temperatures and then warming. The end result is that we are racing to patch several new potholes.”
He added that street workers are using a temporary ‘cold mix’ to patch the damage until summer, when the weather conditions will allow workers to apply a more permanent patch. The city is asking drivers to use caution and be aware that pooling water may be covering potholes. If possible, please avoid driving through areas with significant water accumulation on roadways. Residents are also asked to report potholes and other road hazards by calling 311.
In addition to roadway repairs, the city is working with PSI Environmental to restore garbage and recycling service to its normal schedule. Snow and ice on roadways and alleyways during the storm made it unsafe for trucks to operate — delaying pickup for most customers. In addition, some alleyways remain unsafe for large vehicles due to icy conditions.
PSI is asking customers with service in alleyways to place bins — if possible — at the curb until trucks can safely drive in the alleys. Please call PSI at 208-733-4441 for more information about garbage and recycling collection. Customers with curbside pick-up may also be experiencing delays. If PSI is unable to pick up garbage on customers scheduled pick-up day, they will pick up garbage the following day.