Winter-Snow Removal

Crews plow a snowy winter road in the Blue Sage neighborhood

In this mountain town, the snow falls in feet, not inches; and winter typically runs from November to April, sometimes a bit longer. In fact, Steamboat Springs’ snow is abundant and so unique that it carries its own trademark. The City of Steamboat Springs is a thriving resort community with a great demand on its transportation system. Winter maintenance is a vital function; and as you can imagine, is handled a bit differently when you sit at 6,700 feet/2,042 meters above sea level. 

The Public Works staff takes great pride in providing street maintenance and is dedicated to maintaining 80 miles of streets, 6 miles of alleys, 37 parking lots, 1,100 fire hydrants and 105 cul-de-sacs. The 5 miles of US Highway 40 through downtown is the responsibility of the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Priorities

The city utilizes grader snow plowing complemented by sand truck plowing. This method allows for improved widening of the roadways, the removal of snow pack on the streets, and a reduction in windrows (berms) per storm.

  1. The first priority is to keep roadways clear of snow for emergency access and traffic flow. 
  2. During times of heavy snowfall, streets are prioritized according to public safety requirements and traffic volumes, with a focus on access routes for emergency vehicles, bus and commercial routes, and then residential areas. 
  3. When the snow stops, crews work to remove snow from storage piles throughout the community.  

Snow Maintenance

  • During the winter season, Streets crews maintain an aggressive plowing schedule to manage an average of 300 inches of snowfall per year and keep roadways clear for vehicle traffic. Winter maintenance crews work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to clear snow and ice from city streets. In addition, Streets Division personnel are on call 24 hours a day year-round to respond to urgent matters.
  • Streets uses an average of 2,800 tons of scoria per winter season to improve traction on city streets. The city applies scoria material to collector streets and on bus/emergency vehicle routes and roads that have steep grades and is also applied at major intersections where stopping and turning are difficult. 
  • Please keep a few points in mind to help out during the busy winter season:
    • Be patient. Streets maintenance is prioritized according to public safety requirements and traffic volumes with a focus on access routes for emergency vehicles, bus and commercial routes, and then residential areas. Snow operations are labor intensive and equipment does fail on occasion.
    • Observe No Parking 2:00 am - 8:00 am signs. During the late night and early morning hours, crews plow and haul snow away from commuter and side streets.
    • Be a good neighbor. It is unlawful to push or plow your snow into or across the roadway. Homeowners and residents are responsible for maintaining their own driveways and parking areas. Your snow must be disposed of on your own property. Disposing of snow in roadways will only affect your neighbor. This code will be enforced and fines may apply.
    • Snowplow Safety. Snow removal crews work long hours to keep the streets safe and we ask for everyone’s cooperation to help keep them safe as well. Remember, plow trucks cannot stop or turn as readily as most vehicles. Please allow ample space for our snowplows to maneuver freely.

Residential Neighborhoods

Snow Removal brochure, described in text on pagePlowing Strategy

As a general rule, snow on residential neighborhood streets is plowed half to one side, half to the other side of each street. This is done by circling city blocks, starting in the center of the street with a motor grader equipped with a snow plow wing attachment. We work our way to the sides of the street where we leave the snow in the city right-of-way, which we call the "snow storage area".

Snow Storage

The city’s snow storage area is located on private property in the first five feet from the outside edge of the asphalt or curb and gutter. This space is known as the public right-of-way.

Driveways & Windrows

When plowing is required, snow piles called "windrows" are created across driveways. Removal of this snow in driveways is the responsibility of the property owner. Crews make every attempt to keep this issue to a minimum and ask residents to be patient and recognize that during the winter months there will be some inconvenience. If snow from residential sidewalks, driveways or mailbox areas is put in the street it will be plowed back to the side of the road to remove the safety hazard from the street which can inadvertently result in a windrow across your or a neighbor’s driveway.

Sidewalks, Mailboxes & Alleyways

All snow from private property or adjacent sidewalks must be stored on private property and not in the city’s snow storage area located in the public right-of-way. Please note that the city is not responsible for snow removal on or around sidewalks, driveways or mailboxes. Within the City of Steamboat Springs, adjacent property owners/tenants are responsible for proper same-day removal of snow from sidewalks, without depositing the snow into the city streets.

Streets also plows to the end of each core alley. Please do not place snow from private property into the snow piles at the end of the alleyways as this creates a safety hazard.  Moving snow from private property to the city’s snow storage area in the public right-of-way is in violation of Municipal Codes Sec. 20-5 and Sec. 15-6, Paragraph 7.

Privately Contracted Snow Plowing Services

Property owners and privately contracted plow services should be aware that the placing, dumping or pushing of snow onto city streets or right-of-ways from adjacent properties is prohibited. Steamboat Municipal Codes: Sec. 20-5 and Sec. 15-6, Paragraph 7

Resources

Organization Phone Web
Streets-City of Steamboat Springs 970-879-1807 steamboatsprings.net
City Hall-City of Steamboat Springs 970-879-2060 steamboatsprings.net
Steamboat Springs Police 911 Emergency
970-879-1144 Non-Emergency
 steamboatsprings.net/police
Colorado State Patrol 970-824-6501 colorado.csp.gov
Weather 970.879-3450 weather.gov
CDOT-Road Conditions 877-315-7623 cotrip.org
Steamboat Springs Transit 970-879-3717 steamboatsprings.net/sst
Colorado Parks & Wildlife 970-870-2197 cwp.state.co.us