SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Spokane County Commissioners Josh Kerns and Amber Waldref, along with Public Works Senior Director Kyle Twohig, gathered today to discuss the county’s snow removal procedures. With over 5,100 lane miles of road to manage, the county faces challenges from a variety of road types and terrain.
Twohig explained that Spokane County uses a dry deicer called “Ice Slicer” to melt compact snow and ice, while “Apex,” a liquid deicer, is typically applied overnight. For particularly thick ice, the county employs a blade attachment known as “Shark Teeth.”
Commissioner Kerns highlighted a common public concern about driveways being plowed in.
“For the past few years, Spokane County has diligently tried to address this problem by installing snow gates on our graders…but keep in mind that they are only used in residential neighborhoods,” Kerns said.
He urged residents to help by removing vehicles and other obstacles from the street and avoiding shoveling snow into the street.
Commissioner Waldref emphasized the importance of vehicle preparedness for winter weather.
“Motorists should also make sure they have emergency supplies in their car or truck…like a flashlight, traction sand or cat litter, a shovel, flares, and some blankets,” Waldref said.
She stressed the need to slow down and allow extra travel time during snowy conditions.
For additional information, including maps of the Priority Routes and Snowplow Activity, visit the Spokane County Public Works website.
