Q and A: Plowing in Spokane County

•How much does it have to snow before roads are plowed?

Depending on the wetness of the snow, crews usually plow arterials after 2 inches have fallen. Local access roads are included after about 4 inches have accumulated, said Ross Kelly of the Spokane County Engineering department.

•Who plows the roads?

Spokane County crews remove snow from Spokane Valley streets as part of a road maintenance contract.

Liberty Lake pays an Otis Orchards contractor to do the work.

The state’s transportation department maintains Highway 27 (Pines Road), Highway 290 (Trent Avenue) and Interstate 90.

•What about sidewalks?

Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake ordinances requires that homeowners remove snow from public sidewalks. In Spokane Valley, code officers enforce the ordinance based on complaints received by city.

•I can’t shovel my sidewalk. Can I get help?

Yes, depending on where you live. Unincorporated Spokane County residents incapable of shoveling may qualify for assistance from a Geiger Correctional Facility work crew. For more information, call Spokane County engineering at 477-3600. In Liberty Lake, those unable to shovel their snow should call City Hall at 755-6700.

•Which Spokane Valley streets are plowed first?

Spokane Valley roads are divided into four groups.

•Priority 1 streets receive de-icer before and during snowfall and usually take 12-14 hours to clear. They include (from north to south): Wellesley west of Sullivan, North MacDonald, North Evergreen, North Progress, Sullivan Road, Argonne/Mullan, Mission, University, Broadway west of Sullivan, Sprague, Appleway, Dishman-Mica, Carnahan south of I-90, Eighth from Carnahan to Park, Park between Sprague and Eighth, Schafer and East 44th.

•Priority 2 streets are plowed, sanded and de-iced. They take between 16 to 20 hours to clear and include: Wellesley east of Sullivan, Barker, most of Flora, most of Euclid, East Marietta, Mirabeau Parkway, Montgomery, Indiana, Progress, Adams, Evergreen, McDonald, Herald, Bowdish, Vercler, Vista, Park north of Sprague, Mission east of Argonne, Fancher, Sharp, Yardley, Railroad, Farr between Sprague and Broadway, Valleyway, Thierman, Fourth, Eighth east of Dishman-Mica, 24th, 32nd west of Best, South Pines, Madison and Thorpe.

•Priority 3 streets are hilly residential roads, and priority 4 streets are flat residential roads. They are plowed or sanded as time as time and resources allow.

A complete map of Spokane Valley plowing priorities is available online at spokesmanreview.com/news/plowmap.pdf.