The state of Kansas has reported concerns about staffing shortages for road crews to clear snow and ice this winter, but the city of Wichita expects to be fully staffed.
Vice Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters that the city is above minimum staffing levels with 151 drivers. Public works crews expect to have 166 drivers by the start of the winter season. The city has eight brine trucks for pre-treating streets, and there are 60 trucks with snow plows and spreaders. Johnson said the city has been stocking its salt and sand reserves, and it has enough salt to make 35,000 tons of salt-sand mix as needed. Crews use around 500 tons of the salt-sand mix for each winter event, depending on the severity of the weather.
Johnson said streets will be treated on a priority system, and the top priority will be the 1,500 lane miles of emergency routes and major arterials, with special attention to major routes serving hospitals, emergency facilities and public schools. The next priority will be secondary arterial streets and residential streets that provide access to schools.
The city does not clear snow and ice from K-96, most of Kellogg, and the interstates. Those roadways will be the responsibility of state crews. The Kansas Department of Transportation has said that staffing shortages may lead to delays in getting roads cleared this winter.
People will be able to follow snow operations of city trucks by going to the city’s web site at www.wichita.gov/snowremoval The city will also provide updates on Twitter.
