DETROIT – Detroit has a three-level system it uses to prioritize snow removal during the winter.
Detroit’s Department of Public Works maintains 673 miles of major roads and 1,884 miles of residential streets. The city also has 50 miles of bike lanes that it maintains.
The Detroit Department of Public Works has 70 trucks and 50+ will be on the streets for each snow event. Business owners and residents are required to clear the snow from their sidewalks.
Freeways are cleared by the Wayne County Road Commission. State trunklines such as Michigan, Woodward, and Gratiot are maintained by the state, while county roads such as Outer Drive, W. McNichols, and W. 7 Mile are maintained by Wayne County.
If the city declares a snow emergency, police will be allowed to ticket and tow illegally parked vehicles on snow emergency routes. Any streets that have been marked by red and white signs are first priority for snow removal.
Residents and businesses are in charge of clearing snow and ice from their sidewalks to keep them safe for pedestrians. People are not allowed to put snow from their property onto public roads.
Detroit’s three-level snow removal system
Detroit uses a three-level system to guide snow removal requirements during the winter. The following information comes directly from the city:
Level 1:
- 3 inches or less of snow and/or freezing rain (average of 80% of Detroit snow events fall into this category).
- DPW crews remove snow only from major thoroughfare by salting streets.
- Bike Lanes will be salted.
- All roads will be cleared for vehicular traffic within 24 hours of snow stopping; all bike lanes will be salted within 36 hours of snow stopping.
Level 2:
- 3 to 6 inches of snow.
- DPW crews will remove snow only from major thoroughfares by plowing and/or salting roads.
- Bike lanes will be plowed and salted as needed; snow from bike lanes will either be pushed to the curb, or hauled away, dependent upon volume of snowfall.
- Highest priority roads will be cleared within 24 hours of snow stopping; all major roads and bike lanes will be cleared within 48-72 hours of snow ending.
Level 3:
- 6 inches or more of snow.
- DPW crews will plow and salt on major thoroughfares.
- Bike Lanes will be cleared after vehicle travel lanes have all been removed of snow; accumulated snow in bike lanes will be pushed to the closest intersection and hauled away.
- The following contractors will be deployed to plow residential streets (District 1 – Brilar Landscaping; District 2 – Jordan Landscaping; District 3 – Grace Management.; District 4 – Payne Landscaping; District 5 – Fontenot; District 6 – Pavex; District 7 – Jordan)
- Residential streets will be plowed at least 16 feet wide, within ½ inch to the ground
- The City may declare a Snow Emergency, which can be used to restrict parking along previously identified major corridor
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