Snow & Ice Control Information

City crews plow and treat more than 1,000 lane miles of streets and cul-de-sacs in Lee's Summit

Public Works is responsible for snow and ice control on public streets. The department monitors weather forecasts closely to schedule crews in advance of winter weather to ensure the highest possible level of response for safe travel during and after an event.

The Snow Plan has a scheduled route system. Snow plows are only redirected to assist police and fire emergency services and are not otherwise pulled off of assigned routes.

Snow Control Response Levels

Lee’s Summit has established snow control goals which include a completion time for each level of response. The goal time starts when accumulating
winter precipitation ends and is dependent upon the severity of winter weather conditions. 

Level 1: pre-treatment
Level 2: one inch or less on primary and secondary routes and less than two inches on residential routes; treatment within 24 hours
Level 3: one to six inches - plow and treat within 32.5 hours*; and six to ten inches - plow and treat within 40 hours
Level 4: more than ten inches - plow and treat within 48 hours
Level 5: sustained winds of 30 MPH - plow and treat within 48 hours*
*less than two inches on residentials, treatment only

Route Classifications

Primary and secondary roads are the main priority when the snowfall begins. Residential streets are plowed last.

  • Primary: major multi-lane or high volume two-lane streets
  • Secondary: minor thoroughfares
  • Residential: local streets, includes dead end streets and cul-de-sacs

Snow and Ice Control

Snow and ice control, or plowing and treating, is to provide adequate mobility and safety for properly equipped and prudently operated vehicles. Plowed streets are intended to meet this goal. The City does not have a bare pavement policy or expectation. Generally, streets are plowed curb to curb, but there may be snow pack, wind rows, and other areas of covered pavement for a variety of reasons after a route is completed.

When heavy snowfall is predicted and snow is falling, Public Works may plow one pass on residential streets and around cul-se-sacs which allows for a drive lane down the center of the street. Once snowfall stops or one pass is complete, crews will return and plow streets open as much as attainable. 

Private Streets, Driveways and Sidewalks

Plowing snow on private property is the property owner’s responsibility. Shoveling snow to the side of the driveway will lessen the amount of snow left at the driveway entrance and/or sidewalks during plowing.

Snow Route Map

The Snow Route Map shows which streets are primary, secondary and residential.

Snow Routes