Tulsa crews work to clear snow from streets

For the second time in nine days, city of Tulsa crews were plowing major arterial streets nonstop, working to remove the latest snow.

That process is much more labor-intensive as the snow has to be removed instead of plowed, which blocks driveways, mailboxes, fire hydrants and parked vehicles.Tulsa had about 7,000 tons left before this latest storm, which included the enhanced salt. The city of Tulsa is ordering another 3,000 tons of regular salt in case of a March snowstorm.Following the Feb. 2 storm, and for the first time ever, Tulsa crews began clearing snow from more than 3,000 lane-miles of secondary routes, also referred to as collector streets, said Paul Crossland, Public Works deputy director of public facilities.Strizek compared the snowstorms to natural disasters.The enhanced salt also provides 30 percent to 40 percent more coverage and can be spread out further. After two or three coverings, the ice becomes slushy; then roads can be plowed down to the pavement. Crews will go back to bridges and hills to treat them again as needed.Unlike the city, Tulsa County highway districts use sand in their road treatments, said Michael Willis, spokesman for the county.Statewide, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has 115 crews and 500 trucks available with more than 130,000 tons of sand and salt, said Kenna Mitchell, ODOT spokeswoman.Tulsa County does use some salt in west Tulsa County around the communities of Berryhill and Sand Springs, where there are more hills and rougher terrain, Willis said."We go from being heroes to zeros," Strizek said. "It goes with the territory."Crews have piled up 6,245 hours of overtime at a cost of $111,609, said Paul Strizek, deputy director of Tulsa Public Works."Most disasters involve widespread loss of life and property," Strizek said. "This disaster is one we knew was coming. We even watched it and commented on how 'beautiful' it was and that it 'looks so nice.' Then after a couple of days everyone is ready to be done with it."The 3,100 tons of enhanced salt is chemically treated so that it works in sub-zero temperatures to penetrate the ice and start the melting process.And, when crews cannot get rid of the snow and ice fast enough, people become upset."Usually temperatures aren't as cold in March and snow clears up faster," Strizek said.Strizek said the city, which started the year with 9,600 tons of salt, uses pure salt and enhanced salt to treat the streets.

Statewide, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has 115 crews and 500 trucks available with more than 130,000 tons of sand and salt, said Kenna Mitchell, ODOT spokeswoman.