When snowfall occurs in Fountain, our Streets Department diligently works around the clock to ensure that roadways remain clear for residents, local businesses, and first responders. We are dedicated to delivering exceptional service despite Colorado’s unpredictable and often challenging weather conditions.
Before the snow begins to fall, our team is already proactively preparing for impending storms. We closely monitor evolving weather forecasts, ready the necessary equipment and snowplows, coordinate snowplow drivers and their shift assignments, and, when needed, apply de-icing agents to arterial roadways to mitigate the impact of snow and ice accumulation.
With over 108 lane miles of public roads in the city, we take snow removal, and your safety seriously. We meticulously plan for winter weather and continuously enhance our snow removal operations, recognizing that each snow event is unique and that our procedures may need to adapt based on the specific characteristics of the storm. Our main goal is to provide snow removal and road treatments that facilitate traffic flow for those utilizing City of Fountain roadways.
Snow Removal Priority System
While every roadway holds importance, it is impractical to clear them simultaneously. Consequently, the City implements a systematic strategy to prioritize its roadway network, considering specialized equipment, timing, and available resources necessary for efficient snow removal. This method guarantees the restoration of safe travel conditions on City-maintained roads as effectively as possible. To optimize snow removal efforts, the City of Fountain is divided into seven distinct zones. Please refer to the attached link to access the City's snow removal map.
The categories of roadway priorities include:
Priority - These roads are on primary snow routes. Crews will focus resources on these roads to maintain continuous all-weather access based on available personnel and equipment.
Secondary – These roads are secondary snow routes. Crews will transition to these roads when priority roadways are properly treated and cleared of snow to provide the safest travel possible.
Residential – Residential roads will not be plowed until Priority and Secondary roadways have been properly treated and/or cleared of snow based on available personnel and equipment.
General Operating Procedures
The time required to clear roads during snow events is influenced by several factors, including snow intensity and duration, temperature, traffic conditions, the time of day, and the availability of personnel and resources.
Snow removal operations begin as soon as accumulation begins on the roads and continue until the storm subsides. The number of snowplows deployed is determined by these factors, as well as the availability of personnel and snowplow vehicles.
During snow events, salt and sand treatments are primarily applied at intersections and on hills. However, in instances of heavy snowfall, the application of sand may be reduced, as accumulating snow can cover the materials, which will subsequently be removed during plowing.
In our plowing operations, we prioritize clearing the most heavily traveled lanes first. Plows will return later to widen the roadways as resources permit.
The City of Fountain currently employs an 80/20 sand/salt mixture (80% sand and 20% salt) for snow management. Additionally, we utilize Ice Slicer primarily on hills and major intersections to enhance ice melting at lower temperatures.
How You Can Help
Please travel a minimum of 200 feet behind snowplow equipment to allow for sanding and possible sudden stopping of the vehicle.
Please understand not all roadways are salt/sanded during snow events. Be aware that many environmental factors affect plowing operations, and plowing can sometimes create low-traction conditions on the roadway. Exercise extreme care when driving in inclement weather. Operating a motor vehicle on snow-packed and icy roads will require your full attention and caution.
Leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you when conditions worsen on roadways.
Our snowplow drivers often work long hours under difficult and hazardous conditions. Please give them plenty of room. They appreciate courteous and careful drivers.