Trucking Terminals Plowing Services

What can I do about my snow shoveling slacker neighbor?

A: Most communities recommend that you try to solve the problem by yourself, by having a respectful conversation with your neighbor. This could definitely be the quickest and cheapest way to resolve a problem.

​Q: What streets are plowed whenever it snows?

A: For any snow event, our number one goal is to keep designated salt routes in good winter driving condition. Salt routes are bus routes, primary streets, arterial roads and streets to and from hospitals and schools. These are the streets on which we apply salt and we send crews to work on these routes whenever it snows.

Slippery spots on residential streets will be sanded as needed. City owned sidewalks and priority crosswalks are cleared as needed during regular working hours.

Arterial bikeways are plowed as needed with a goal of having them cleared as soon as possible for commuters.

Q: How do you decide what streets are on the main salt routes?

A: Only main arterials, thoroughfares, main connector streets, Metro bus routes, streets surrounding hospitals and schools and major hills and curves are salted.

Q: Why don’t we plow and salt all the streets in the city, specifically secondary and residential streets?

A: The City of Omaha NE limits the amount of salt that is applied to its streets as an effort to protect its groundwater and the quality of the lakes. Only main arterials, thoroughfares, main connector streets, Omaha NE Metro bus routes, streets surrounding hospitals and schools and major hills and curves are salted. All other City of Omaha NE streets receive sand to act as an abrasive on hills, intersections and curves.

Q: I only have on-street parking. Why do you always plow snow against my car?

A: Even though there are cars parked on the street, the plows must clear the traffic lanes of each of the streets. The snow is plowed to the right to where the curb is. Unfortunately for those people who park on the street, the snow is plowed up against the cars. That is why we ask that all cars try to find off street parking whenever there is snow accumulation of 3 or more and until streets are plowed.

Q: What happens if there are less than 3 inches of snow on the streets?

A: All salt routes are plowed and salted during every measurable snow event regardless of the accumulation. Residential streets that are not salted are only plowed when snow accumulations reach the 3 level and the snow event has ended or has just about concluded. If the residential streets are not plowed, sand is applied at hills, intersections and curves to act as an abrasive to assist in braking.

Q: What happens during extreme winter weather events, such as blizzards and ice storms?

A: When Omaha NE is hit with extreme winter events such as blizzards and ice storms, these events can stress our capacity to keep streets safe for driving. During such events, snow and ice operations will focus on a few main streets and routes for emergency vehicles. In extreme weather conditions, we recommend that you stay off the roads.

Q: Will the snow plow ever completely clear my residential street down to bare pavement?

A: No! It is not the goal of the City’s Snow and Ice Policy to have all streets clear down to bare pavement.

Q: How long will it take to finish plowing all the streets?

A: Once a general plow of all 1,793 lane miles of streets begins, it usually takes between 10 to 12 hours to complete.