Snow Removal From the Streets

• The City of Kennewick is devoted to keeping our streets as safe as possible, within a constrained budget. Prior to a major snow or freezing rain event, the city will attempt to spread salt and de-icing material on all major arterial streets. Other high priority locations include streets near schools, hospitals, traffic signals, roundabouts and hills.
•  As snow accumulates to plowable depths, our crews will begin plowing the major arterial streets, the streets near schools, hospitals, traffic signals, roundabouts and hills.
• Depending on the severity and duration of the storm, it may take considerable time before snow can be cleared from local residential streets and cul-de-sacs. In the aftermath of the storm, please be patient, self-sufficient and travel only if it's absolutely necessary.
• During an extended winter weather event, the city has to manage our salt reserves to ensure availability to treat main arterials, intersections, and priority routes.  This may result in icy residential roads for long periods of time.  The salt/deicer road mix is not effective when temperatures drop below 15° F.  When this occurs, our crews switch to a sand/salt mixture to provide traction.
• During a major snow event, the City of Kennewick may also utilize contract labor to assist in responding to snow and ice control.

Click here to view a PDF of our snow removal route map shown below

 Homeowner/Business Owners Are Responsible for Cleaning Their Sidewalks

• Removal of snow from sidewalks along your home and business property is a responsibility of all citizens. The best time to shovel snow is immediately after it falls and before ice can begin to form. Make sure you shovel the snow into your yard and not the street.
• After you clear the sidewalk of snow, you may choose to apply an ice-melting substance. The City recommends use of Calcium Chloride, (sometimes called "hot melt") rather than Sodium Chloride (Rock Salt) because it is less damaging to sidewalks and plants. Also, it works at a much lower temperature, so it is more effective in freezing conditions.
• If your home or business is at a corner, please remove the snow from the sidewalk ramps so children and other pedestrians can cross the street.
• Dig out fire hydrants for your safety and the safety of your neighbors.
• If your neighbors are elderly, disabled or have other special conditions that makes snow removal hazardous, please be a good neighbor and help clean the snow and ice for them.
• If you own a snow blower and are able to, please help your neighbors. Make sure you blow the snow into your yard and not the street.
• If you need assistance, but don't know where to start, consider dialing 2-1-1, which connects you to community resource specialists.

Please Don't Take it Personally

• Equipment operators may work 12 hours or more in a shift and appreciate courteous and friendly drivers, pedestrians and home owners. Please help them help you.
• Pushing snow across a driveway opening or along a car parked on the street is often unavoidable as City crews work to keep streets passable.
• The City tries to avoid piling snow in the center turn lanes due to the danger of not being able to see when merging into traffic, and the piled snow can melt and refreeze as ice in adjacent cleared travel lanes.
• Don't throw snow from your sidewalk or driveway into the street.  This may cause an accident or require the plow to return to a previously plowed street.
•  To help avoid having snow covering your driveway from the City plows, shovel your snow to the right of your driveway into your yard and not into the street.
• If your neighbors are elderly, disabled or have other special conditions that makes snow removal hazardous, please be a good neighbor and help clean the snow and ice for them.