Update on Joplin snow plowing, trash routes

From the city of Joplin:

City crews have completed the first pass on residential streets to create a lane for citizens to reach the main roads, and now are reentering the neighborhoods for a second time. Although the work is compacting the snow and helping citizens, the fluctuation of temperatures has also made traveling a rough ride.

“We are experiencing a thaw and freeze cycle of the snow, which causes large ruts in the streets to be formed,” said Public Works Director David Hertzberg. “Because of this, City crews will go back through the neighborhoods and again, smooth out the roads.”

Hertzberg reminds citizens that the City typically does not snow plow residential streets due to the significant number of linear miles of streets (approximately 400, in which 75% are residential) in Joplin. “We generally work along the 100-plus miles of main streets of the City in plowing and have the luck of warm weather that follows a snowfall in this area. This time, the cold spell is sticking around and has not helped us in getting residents moving through their neighborhoods. We are working in these areas, but it has added over 300 linear miles of streets for our crews.”

City staff has taken numerous calls from residents with questions about this process, as well as comments from areas that need salt and sand. Five crews work throughout the City applying salt and sand to roadways with steep grades and problem areas identified by the Streets Division.

“We appreciate our citizens’ patience,” said Hertzberg. “In just traveling one way through all of the streets, we cover over 400 miles. And in reality, that number needs to be multiplied by two for two lane roads, and by four for four lane roads. When you do the math, it is impressive how many miles our crews have worked on these past few days.”

With more snow predicted in the weather forecast, City crews will continue these routes as well return to the main roadways to keep them clear. “Right now, we are all looking ahead to spring,” he said.

TRASH ROUTES

Citizens should be aware that Allied Waste, the City’s residential trash contractor, has stated they will pick up trash on Tuesday, February 8. People on the regular Tuesday schedule should put their trash out as usual. In addition, if your trash is picked up in the alley, Allied officials said they will run trucks through the alleys as they can.

Residents on other trash pick-up days should watch and/or listen to local news media for updates on trash services, as a new cold front is moving through, with a prediction of additional snowfall. If trash is not running on that day, City officials notify the news media of this cancellation.

Please note: when trash schedule returns to normal operations, residents should not worry about the quantity of trash placed at their curb or alley – Allied said they will collect all of their trash.

For more information, contact Lynn Onstot, Public Information Officer at 624-0820, ext. 204.