The City of Bozeman receives an annual average snowfall of 82 inches.  Snowfall is often accompanied with winds in excess of 30 mph and sub-zero temperatures. In an effort to provide city officials and the general public with insight into our winter activities, a Snow Policy was created and is available at Snow Policy. This policy outlines the response procedures to winter storm events.  

During the winter, Street Division employees monitor weather and street conditions daily. Street conditions will vary after each snow storm due to temperature, wind, snow moisture content, and snowfall amounts. Street Division personnel are on call 24-hours a day to sand and plow the city's roadways. Over 42 miles of streets are designated as priority snow routes requiring immediate and, sometimes, continuous plowing and sanding.

When a snowstorm hits, plowing or sanding operations begin, as early as 3:00 a.m., and continue throughout the day maintaining snow routes to increase the safety of the motoring public. Priority routes are plowed first. Crews then concentrate on commercial and business areas and, finally, on residential portions of town. Driving lanes are cleared and, as time permits, snow is plowed to the curbs on most streets, unless vehicles are parked in the way.

Sanding Procedures

Maintaining traction is key to safe traffic flow. With fluctuating temperatures causing freezing and melting conditions, sanding is a vital part of our winter operation.  Until enough snow has fallen to plow – at least 2" – sanding trucks will maintain all priority routes and heavily-traveled intersections by spreading a mixture of sand and 10% salt, which is to keep the sand from freezing to the road surface. Unless a massive snowfall mandates sanders return to priority routes, sanding will continue throughout the day until all controlled intersections have been completed.

Plowing procedures

To help crews plowing after a snowstorm, we request citizens to not park vehicles on priority snow routes. This allows crews to plow quickly and safely without the added concern of damaging or plowing in any vehicle parked along these routes.

The Street Division operates three motor graders, five plow trucks equipped with sanders, and two liquid de-icer trucks. Plows and motor graders with snow gates plow snow to the curb side. Front-end loaders with 2-way plows are used on narrow or short streets, such as cul-de-sacs.

Snow Emergencies

During a severe snow storm, the City Manager may declare a snow emergency and residents will have 48 hours to move all vehicles from designated snow routes. Ambulances, fire, and police vehicles could lose vital minutes needed to respond to emergencies if they encounter vehicles parked or stalled in streets. Plowing operations are also impeded. The City may have these vehicles towed, at the owner's expense, if conditions warrant.

Snow Removal

In the downtown business district where windrowed snow accumulations block pedestrian access and driving lane widths, snow removal may be necessary, especially when windrowed heights exceed 24". When snow removal is needed, Street Division crews will use large snow blowers and front-end loaders to fill dump trucks with snow for transport to an approved stockpile area. Snow removal is normally done during early morning hours to reduce traffic interruptions and to increase operational efficiency and safety.

Chemical De-icing

City policy allows a minimum amount of salt to be mixed with sanding material to prevent stockpiled sand from freezing and to help sand stick to a cold road surface during application. The City also uses a liquid de-icer to help with snow and ice removal operations. This product is widely used and has been adopted by many state highway departments and municipalities throughout the Northwest. The liquid de-icer allows The City to use less sanding material which minimizes sweeper cleanup time and environmental concerns in the spring. The City's goal is to use a minimum amount of de-icer to provide maximum safety for the driving public.

Sidewalk Snow Removal

At times, snow may be plowed from streets on to sidewalks or in front of driveways. We realize this is an inconvenience and we do our best to minimize these situations.