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Winter Weather Response
The City of Dayton responds with every resource available when significant snowfall or other winter weather events occur. Snow and ice removal and street treatment are prioritized throughout the 1,700 lane miles that the City maintains, to help keep drivers and residents safe.
Highways, arterials, bridges, RTA routes, and streets bordering public schools and hospitals:
When snow events start, snowplow drivers apply de-icer materials and plow as necessary to maintain drivable roadways. Interstate 75, State Route 35 and State Route 4 within the Dayton city limits will be plowed and de-icer materials applied to maintain one clear lane at a minimum.
Downtown (Central Business District): Snowplow drivers apply several rounds of salt, sometimes treated with a de-icer chemical mix. When this process is not effective, snow may be plowed to the middle of selected streets and loaded in dump trucks for removal, or plowed to the curbs.
Snow Removal Priorities
First Priorities
Highways, arterials, bridges, RTA routes, and streets bordering public schools and hospitals: When snow events start, snowplow drivers apply de-icer materials and plow as necessary to maintain drivable roadways. Interstate 75, State Route 35 and State Route 4 within the Dayton city limits will be plowed and de-icer materials applied to maintain one clear lane at a minimum.
Downtown (Central Business District): Snowplow drivers apply several rounds of salt, sometimes treated with a de-icer chemical mix. When this process is not effective, snow may be plowed to the middle of selected streets and loaded in dump trucks for removal, or plowed to the curbs.
Second Priority
Hills and collectors: Once first priority one roadways have been treated for safe travel, snowplow drivers will transition to these priority two roadways. (Collectors are streets that move traffic from less-traveled residential streets to more heavily traveled arterials.)
Third Priority
Residential streets: These streets are plowed and treated with salt when snow accumulation totals are 4 inches or more. If the weather forecast indicates additional snow accumulations, plowing and salt applications may be added.
Did You Know?
On standby are more than 50 snow removal vehicles and more than 80 crew members to keep streets and highways clear.
During the winter months, City staff track potential storms 24 hours per day and on-call City crews are available to begin working 16-hour shifts when winter weather is forecast. If there is a snow emergency, essential employees, public safety and emergency management staff work around the clock to ensure that Dayton and its residents weather the storm.