Minnesota can be a winter wonderland, yet that same snow can create dangerous driving conditions. To get Bloomington residents through winter road conditions safely, snowplowing crews plow the most heavily used roads first and then move on to other roads and culs-de-sacs. After or during a snowfall, City plow operators hit the streets as early as 3 a.m. to prepare for morning traffic. Snowplowing services are provided at a cost of $4.05 per month for an owner of a
median-valued home.
Did you know? In the 2023 National Community Survey, 81% of respondents rated the City’s snow removal services as excellent or good.
What’s a snow emergency?
A snow emergency is a declaration the City can make any time weather conditions warrant it. During a snow emergency, no parking is allowed on city streets for the following 48 hours or until the full width of the street has been plowed.
Stay informed
When a snow emergency is declared, the City posts alerts on its website, social media pages, cable channel and E-Subscribe.
To receive email alerts about snow emergencies and parking restrictions, sign up for E-Subscribe alerts at blm.mn/esubscribe.
Our waters deserve a low-sodium diet
Winter in Minnesota means snow and ice. Deicing roads, parking lots and sidewalks often means using chloride derived from salt. Salt levels are so high in the metro area that many creeks and lakes are considered unhealthy or impaired, including Nine Mile Creek. Along with environmental consequences, too much salt leads to costly damages. You can reduce deicing salt use and impact by:
Shoveling walkways before snow compacts to minimize ice buildup.
Sanding for traction. When temperatures fall below 15 degrees, salt doesn’t work effectively.
Scattering salt sparingly with about three inches between grains of salt. More salt does not mean more melt.
Sweeping up leftover salt and sand on dry pavement, and reusing as needed.
Storing salts properly. City ordinances require stored salt and deicing materials to be covered and located on an impervious surface in an area that prevents discharge into the storm sewer or other water resources.
On the road
Snowplows are massive machines weighing much more than passenger vehicles. To share the road safely, please follow these precautions:
Allow at least 10 car lengths between you and a snowplow.
Do not use cruise control on wet, icy roads.
Never drive into a snow cloud created by a snowplow.
Turn off cruise control. Turn on headlights.
Yield to snowplows and stay alert.
Black ice
Black ice is an almost totally transparent ice that can easily cause vehicle skids and crashes. It forms when the air temperature is warmer than pavement, causing moisture to freeze quickly and create ice. To help prevent accidents:
Avoid applying brakes on ice as it may cause a vehicle to skid.
Be attentive and keep both hands on the wheel.
Do not use a cell phone while driving.
Do not use cruise control.
Keep a safe speed for the conditions, regardless of the posted speed limit.
Keep a safe stopping distance from the vehicle ahead of you.
Slow down on bridges, overpasses and tunnels, especially in the early morning when air temperatures rise faster than road temperatures.
At home
Wait to clear your driveway until the full width of your street has been plowed so you only have to shovel once. While clearing streets, snowplows may inadvertently push snow from the road into driveways that have already
been shoveled.
Police enforce a parking ban during snow emergencies. To see if a snow emergency has been declared, visit the City’s website and look for an alert stripe at the top of each page, or call the Snow Emergency Hotline at 952-563-8768.
Keeping fire hydrants clear is vital to helping firefighters protect your neighborhood from house fires. Accessible hydrants lessen the time it takes firefighters to extinguish a fire.
Garbage/recycling bins
To leave room for plows if it snows on or near garbage collection day, place garbage and recycling bins behind the curb, away from the end of the driveway and off sidewalks.
The U.S. Post Office delivers in rain, sleet and snow. Help them out by providing easy access to your mailbox. Mailboxes should be located on the left side of your driveway, not extend past the curb and be on sturdy four-by-four timber posts. The bottom of your mailbox should be at least 45 inches off the ground. If damage to turf or a mailbox occurs due to snow removal operations, call Street Maintenance at 952-563-8760.
Snow safety for kids
