The first thing to remember here on the mountain is which agency is responsible for clearing the snow from which roads.
Caltrans is responsible for the numbered highways: 18, 138, 173, 189.
The other roads are the responsibility of the county and its Public Works department.
During last weekend’s snowfall, the county posted this on Facebook:
“Snow removal takes time! The more snow, the longer it takes to clear the roads. Reminder: Main roads are cleared first, then secondary roads. The timeline starts once the snow stops.”
According to the Public Works website (dpw.sbcounty.gov), primary roads such as Lake Gregory Drive, Grass Valley Road, Live Oak and Green Valley Lake Road are plowed first, followed by secondary roads and finally the local roads – such as the ones you may live on.
Why are the roads plowed in this order? To maximize access for emergency vehicles.
If there are vehicles parked in the road, blocking the snowplows, the operators have to wait until the vehicles are removed, delaying snow removal operations.
Public Works suggests residents wait until snowplows have completed two passes before shoveling their driveways or attempting to clear their berms. When shoveling your driveway, throw the snow to the right as you look toward the road. Do not throw snow onto the roadway.
Public Works has three definitions of road status: passable, open, clear. Roads are considered passable when covered with less than eight inches of snow. Open: A plow has made at least one pass on the road after snow has ended and the road is widened to one full lane. And clear: A plow has made at least two passes on the road after the snow has ended. The road has been plowed to its maximum width to allow two-way traffic.
Plows are activated when two to three inches of snow have fallen. Public Works advises it may take up to 12 hours before residents see a first pass on their road.
For more snow information – road closures, snow removal guidelines, plowing route information – visit snowinfo.sbcounty.gov.
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