Thank you for your patience as we complete a migration of our grandrapidsmi.gov website to our new website platform today, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

 

Having issues finding something? Our 311 Customer Service team has you covered! Please call 311 or 616.456.3000 during this time.

Provide Website Feedback

Snow Plowing

Priority plowing

First-attention streets are the major high-volume streets in the city. We apply salt to all 19 first-attention routes. These include but are not limited to:

  • Leonard Street
  • Fulton Street
  • Burton Street
  • Monroe Avenue
  • Division Avenue

Secondary streets include local roads such as:

  • Side streets
  • Cul-de-sacs
  • Alleys

Weather conditions sometimes force snow plows from local roads back to first-attention streets.

First Attention Streets

First Attention Streets are areas that have high traffic volume across the city. The routes below are all 19 First Attention Routes taken by our plows:

First-Attention-1.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-2.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-3.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-4.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-5.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-6.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-7.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-8.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-9.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-10.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-11.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-12.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-13.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-14.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-15.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-16.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-17.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-18.pdf(PDF)

First-Attention-19.pdf(PDF)

Secondary streets and alleys

When do plows go onto secondary streets and alleys?

We continuously monitor weather conditions and treat first-attention routes accordingly. Streets are then prioritized based on traffic volumes. Depending on upcoming weather forecasts, crews will plow local side streets, cul-de-sacs and alley roads after 3 or more inches of snow accumulate.

De-icing material (salt) is typically not applied to local streets. We may salt these streets if there are hills, severe curves or special circumstances in the city.

Plowing techniques clear roads faster

We continue to enhance our winter operations program. Our goal is to deliver the highest level of service to the community. Plow operators will continue to use deicing materials on major streets to combat snow and ice. We will apply calcium chloride to bridges, hills and curves before a snow event when conditions warrant.

Plow trucks have liquid storage capabilities. This allows for the pre-wetting of salt as plows spread it on street surfaces. This pre-wetting method allows material to stick to road surfaces. Where distributed, it produces a bouncing effect, resulting in quicker activation. Pre-wetting salt has proven to reduce the amount of salt used by as much as 30 percent, saving us money.

Less salt used during the winter furthers our sustainability goals. The environmental impact is lower on our rivers and streams when salt isn’t used. We have installed side wings on many of our snow plow trucks. These wings extend off the right side of the truck. When stretched out, these wings plow an additional half lane of snow. This has further improved snow plowing efficiencies.