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1100 S. Kansas Ave
City Service Center
Newton, Kansas 67114
Phone: 316.284.6070
E-mail
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SNOW AND ICE CONTROL
 The City of Newton is pleased to present an overview of the snow and ice control
plan to Newton citizens. This information outlines the policies and procedures currently
in place to help minimize hazardous road conditions in Newton during and after winter
storms. Policies and procedures are subject to annual review and will be periodically
updated as traffic patterns change or as innovative methods and technological advancements
related to snow and ice control are developed. The goal of the plan is to provide
the safest winter driving conditions possible.
Newton has an established snow route comprised
of streets in the central business district, principal arterials and most collector
streets throughout the city. The snow route includes approximately 80 lane miles
of streets as well as several isolated bridges and particularly hazardous intersections.
Street Division snow fighters concentrate their efforts on the snow route to facilitate
emergency vehicle and law enforcement movement and to afford the greatest benefit
to the maximum number of motorists.
 Every winter storm has unique characteristics. Climatological factors such as storm
intensity and duration, wind, temperature and other factors such as time of the
storm and weather forecast influence the type of snow and ice control response that
is initiated.
Relatively light winter storms are combated with a deicing treatment of a salt/haydite
mixture. Occasionally, additional treatments are necessary to obtain the desired
results. Generally, this technique is effective for ice storms and snow accumulations
of less than 4 inches. When more severe conditions exist with higher snow accumulation,
plowing becomes the only effective method to restore safe driving conditions. The
central business district is plowed into windrows to the center of the street and
intersections are cleared using a wheel loader. Snow is later loaded onto dump trucks
and hauled away.
Municipal parking lots are also cleared of accumulated snow. All other streets on
the snow route are plowed to the curb. Residents and businesses along the snow route
must be aware that driveway entrances can become difficult or impossible to negotiate
after plowing and pre-plan for snow removal.
The allocation of equipment and manpower with which to combat winter storms is limited.
It is vital to the success of the plan that snow and ice control resources be dedicated
to returning safe driving conditions on the snow route where the maximum impact
can be achieved. Citizen requests for snow and ice control at other locations will
be evaluated and prioritized with this in mind.
In the event of a catastrophic winter storm with snow accumulations exceeding most
vehicles’ capability to navigate streets, it is conceivable that plowing would occur
on every city street. Such occurrences would require the City to seek assistance
from private snow removal contractors to aid in digging out. Fortunately, such events
rarely occur in this region.
Questions regarding snow and ice control services may be directed to the Street
Division at (316) 284-6070.
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