SPOKANE, Wash. — Crews across Spokane and Spokane County are preparing for whatever the latest round of winter weather may bring.
"It really is a case-by-case basis, monitoring the weather," said Kirstin Davis, Communications Manager for Spokane Public Works. "We do have crews out all the time."
Davis said they've already pre-treated ahead of the first flakes to create the sandwich effect to keep slick conditions at bay.
"So, making sure you're hitting that pavement before the snow falls," Davis said. "So, what happens is it's working on the snow from below and when you go over it with granular de-icer on top, you're hitting it from both directions."
"The big concern is going to be the ice, said Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter with Spokane County Public Works.
Crews with the county's road department were also pre-treating Monday morning, as this week's winter weather may also pack a cold punch later on.
"That is going to complicate snow removal because it freezes into almost solid ice, especially with rain and snow coming in tonight," Wheatley-Billeter said.
And to add to the winter weather advisory list, gusty winds will also provide a separate challenge. That's another layer crews will keep an eye on.
"You have large branches dropping, trees falling, different situations that those crews would take care of," Davis said.
In city and county, heavy equipment will focus on main arterials or emergency routes first. Drivers should be prepared to slow down or take a different route depending on conditions.
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