Vancouver, Wash. – Weather forecasts for the greater Clark County area suggest the potential for continued snow-and-ice conditions over the next several days. Crews with Clark County Public Works’ maintenance operations team have been out pre-treating county roads with saline anti-icer, a mix of salt and water, which prevents a bond from forming between the pavement and the snow. Roads need to be bare and dry to effectively apply the anti-icer combination. Application of this material on a wet road could further compound hazardous driving conditions by freezing and becoming a layer of ice.

Public Works will continue to adjust its staffing plans based on the latest weather forecasts and on-the-ground conditions. Road crews are prepared to plow roads and spread gravel on curves, hills, and other trouble spots where drivers can use more traction.

“The team has been out this weekend sanding and de-icing all over the county,” said Road Maintenance and Operations Manager Josh Lipscomb. “Our fleet of response vehicles is prepped and ready to respond to weather conditions as they arise.”

Clark County Public Works is responsible for approximately 2,700 lane miles of road, making total snow and ice remediation nearly impossible. Road Operations and Maintenance staff have established priority routes, which map out primary, and secondary roads to be plowed and/or de-iced, depending on conditions. Residents should not anticipate having their residential roads plowed or de-iced during a winter weather event.

As another winter weather advisory arrives this week, residents are urged to plan ahead and travel only if necessary. Temperatures will remain dangerously cold and continued snow accumulation is expected. The combination of the two present a risk of icy conditions.

Here are some helpful winter weather tips drivers should follow if they need to drive:

• If you absolutely must drive, check travel conditions before leaving:
  • Clark County has nearly 100 traffic cameras at signalized intersections, primarily in the urban area outside the city of Vancouver.
    • For highway travel conditions, check the WSDOT traffic camera page.
    • For information on the city of Vancouver’s weather response, please visit their web page.
• Make sure your vehicle is ready to go before you hit the road, by checking or having the following items:
  • Functional windshield wipers
  • Functional heater/defroster
  • A full tank of gas
  • Proper tires and inflation
  • Chains if necessary
  • Ice Scraper
  • Warm clothes/blankets in case of emergency
  • Cell phone and charger
  • Emergency roadside kit including flares, cones, etc., to increase visibility if you need to pull over
• Allow yourself extra travel time so you can drive slowly for conditions.
• Leave plenty of room for snowplows and other vehicles.

More information on the county’s winter weather preparation and response is available on the county’s website at www.clark.wa.gov/public-works/winter-snow-and-ice, including primary snow plow route maps.

Stay up-to-date with the latest traffic impacts by visiting our website: https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-works/construction-traffic-delays. You can also find real-time information on the Public Works Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, and on NextDoor.

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