Spokane Plowing Routes 2025

The City of Spokane is in its official snow season. The City’s Street Department crews have been preparing for the inevitable return of winter and has launched full-city plow as of Feb 6th. Now is a good time to provide an overview of the City’s snow response plan. According to The City of Spokane, daytime crews are continuing to clear priority routes of primary and secondary arterials and will begin plowing residential areas as the arterials are completed. The nightshift crews will be working the residential local-access streets starting Thursday, Feb. 6.

Under Full-City plow operations, crews will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until they plow all streets within the City. Additional personnel from water and wastewater will be part of Full-City plowing efforts. Under the City’s snow response plan, a Full-City plow reaching all 2,200 lane miles of streets should take about three days to complete when snow stops falling and is dependent on weather conditions.

Here’s a look at the key components of the City’s snow response plan:

Plowing

When it snows, even if it’s just an inch or two, crews will plow in residential streets as well as the arterials. Arterials plowed first, followed by hills in residential areas. Vehicle routes around schools are medical facilities also have been prioritized.

Driveway Berms

The City has increased the number of “snow gates” in its fleet that allow plow drivers to avoid placing a berm at the end of driveways to 19. The gates don't completely eliminate driveway berms, particularly for those who live on arterials that are plowed more frequently, but they will dramatically reduce berms throughout the City.

Parking

Residents are asked to park on the odd side of the street in residential areas for the snow season, between Nov. 15 and March 15. The goal is to make it easier for the community to comply with parking rules and aid plow drivers with their work. Downtown on snowy days, on-street parking will be prohibited between midnight at 6 a.m. so parking bays can be plowed out.

Collaboration on Sidewalks

residents and businesses must keep their sidewalks shoveled. The City is asking the community to clear a 36-inch path to allow pedestrians to travel effectively, with a goal of completion by 9 a.m. after a snowfall. Please also clear ADA ramps and clear a pedestrian path even if no sidewalk exists.Citizens and businesses must keep their sidewalks shoveled. The city is asking citizens to clear a 36-inch path to allow pedestrians to travel effectively, with a goal of completion by 9 a.m. after a snowfall. Citizens are asked to clear a path even if no sidewalk exists and to clear ADA ramps at intersections. When shoveling or snow blowing, move the snow towards your yard, not the street. Clear snow and ice around mailboxes and storm drains so that plowers can see them better.

Communication

The City will share information before and during the snow season, providing information to the local media and through a variety of communication tools from social media to CityCable 5 to the City’s web site. The City’s online plow progress map will be updated during 24/7 operations to give citizens better information on snow plowing progress. Residential routes are named to closely follow the City’s neighborhood boundaries to make it easier for people to understand where plows are.

Make a Winter Plan

• Move your recreational vehicle, basketball hoop, boat, or trailer off the street to a winter storage location for the snow season.
• Make sure you have adequate snow shovels or a working snowblower. Consider buying some salt or sand.
• Consider signing up with a company that provides snow removal services before the snow flies if you don't want to shovel yourself. 
• Figure out where you can park throughout the snow season from Nov. 15 to March 15. (Everyone is asked to park on the odd side of the street in residential neighborhoods.)
• Figure out what residential snowplow route you live in to make it easier to track the progress of plows. 
• Make sure you know who in your neighborhood might need help with shoveling or other winter work and offer to help. Call 3-1-1 for seniors or disabled individuals who need more help.