Newton has an established snow route consisting of streets in the central business district, principal arterials and most collector streets throughout the city. The snow route includes approximately 103 lane miles of streets, as well as several isolated bridges and particularly vulnerable 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 including 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. Plowed 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 property owners should 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 likely require the City to seek assistance from private contractors to aid in digging out. Fortunately, such events rarely occur in this region.

Questions about snow and ice control services may be directed to the Street Division at 316-284-6070.

Kansas Road Conditions

• Dial 511
• Road Conditions Map

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