Winter

The City provides snow plowing and traction control on all City streets. During a winter storm event, emergency snow routes, arterial and collector streets, and major intersections receive priority attention followed by plowing and traction control on residential streets. The Montana Department of Transportation provides snow plowing and traction control on State maintained traffic routes through Helena including Euclid Avenue, Lyndale Avenue, Montana Avenue, Custer Avenue, 11th Avenue and Prospect Avenue. Private streets and parking lots are maintained by the respective property owners.

City of Helena motorists are advised to provide appropriate traction tires for winter travel and to exercise extra caution when snow and ice are present. Streets, especially in the south hills, can be icy and slick even with snow removed and traction sand applied.

If a special problem arises during a winter event please call the Street Maintenance Division at 447-1566 and leave a message if necessary. Please provide your name, address, phone number and the nature of the problem and we will do our best to provide a timely response.

SNOW ROUTES MAP (PDF)

Priorities:

Priority One: EMERGENCY SNOW ROUTES

Specific streets within the city limits are designated as emergency snow routes and signed as such with specific road signs placed within the street right-of-way. The purpose of this designation and signage is to alert the public that these streets are to be kept clear of parked vehicles, which may interfere with snow and ice control operations. Upon declaration of a snow emergency, declared by the City Manager or his designated representative, vehicles left unattended on the emergency snow route system shall be removed at the owner’s expense. (Emergency Snow Route Ordinance 7-8-6)

Emergency snow routes are given priority one designation as they provide a network system for emergency snow operations.

Priority Two: MAJOR ARTERIALS

Streets interconnecting high volume streets and completing the major street network with particular attention to schools, hospitals and business areas.

Major street arterials are given priority two designation as they serve as a major street network within the city.

Priority Three: SELECTED COLLECTOR STREETS

Collector streets necessary to provide access to the major arterials.

After operations on Priorities One, Two and Three have been accomplished, special requests will be responded to once the need is verified by the Street Division. The response will depend on resource availability (manpower, equipment, etc.) and backlog of requests.

City Snow Equipment

Motor Patrol (1)
Plow Trucks with Sanders (6)
Plow Truck with 1000-Gallon De-Icer (1)
Snow Blower(1)

Personnel - Winter Hours

10 Employees - 3 Shifts

Beginning November 1st, employees are assigned shifts to provide around the clock coverage for snow fighting efforts. Coverage runs from midnight Sunday through Friday evening. Weekends are covered by assigned "on call" personnel for emergency snow routes and weekend storms only.