Season Ahead: “How Are the Roads?”

January 02, 2025

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It looks like winter weather is ahead, and here's what you should know.

Moving into the winter season, some questions crop up every year. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions, and some insight into the planning and process of being prepared for a severe weather event.


  • All city staff members with weather-event duties stay tuned into Douglas County Emergency Management Alerts, and we work closely with our outside partner agencies as needed. You may also sign up for emergency alerts at https://www.dgcoks.gov/emergency-management.
  • Sand and salt stock piles are ordered early and refilled as necessary. This year, the annual shipment was delivered in November. Trucks are readied, filled, and kept pointed outward, making roll out as efficient as possible. If there’s time before predicted weather comes in, we’ll get out and pre-treat with salt and sand.
  • For the sake of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, we’ll wait until the snow is done to plow, unless road conditions get dangerous. We stay in close contact with Baldwin City Police Officers during winter weather events, and if the snow is accumulating fast or is unusually wet and heavy, we'll plow before it stops.
  • Snow routes are: High Street, Lawrence Street to Highway 56, and 6th Street. If there is more than 2 inches of snow fall, you must move your vehicle off the snow routes in order to avoid being ticketed or towed. We do recommend moving vehicles off all city streets if possible when more than an inch of snow is expected, in order to allow the plows access.
  • We focus on the snow routes, the roads near the schools, and downtown first. These are the heaviest traffic areas within city limits. The brick streets get slick very quickly, so we try to get to them early. They also take extra time because we need to navigate around vehicles.
  • Douglas County is responsible for 6th Street (1055) and KDOT maintains Highway 56. The city does not maintain these two main roads, including weather maintenance.
  • Plow drivers may have low visibility, and are concentrating on several things — the position of the plow, curb lines, ditches, parked cars, mailboxes, watching their mirrors for traffic and pedestrians… all at the same time. Please try to make their job a bit easier and keep everyone a little safer.
  • If there’s enough snowfall to allow for sizable snow plow piles, please do NOT allow children to play in the snow plow piles. It can be exceedingly dangerous.
  • Last, but maybe most important, please be patient with us. We are out working for our town in the worst of conditions. We want to ensure the streets are as safe as possible so everyone can get home safely.