Early this week, our focus is remaining on priority routes, bus routes, and areas with extreme drifting. We also have crews focused on digging out fire hydrants, and clearing storm drains. As always, when needed for an emergency, we dispatch a plow with the emergency vehicle(s) to make sure they can respond in a timely manner. Please give our crews the space to work safely and effectively.
Depending on the wind, snowfall, and drifting, we hope to be able to focus on neighborhood plowing and snow removal on major roads later in the week. We are also paying special attention to the area around the schools. The Rawlins Police Department will not be directing traffic around the Elementary School every day, so please be patient and drive safely during all school drop-offs and pick-ups.
The city crew focused on the Priority and Bus routes over the weekend. We were able to maintain the status of those roads, despite ongoing drifting. The warmer weekend did lead to some rutting, which cannot be scraped off by our gravity blades until it partially melts again. Snow removal to the pavement causes issues with water valves, manholes, and the road generally.
City crews will not place snow on your property, and others are not allowed to do so without your permission. The City uses right-of-ways to store snow. Please feel free to talk to the person yourself, or you can call 307-328-4530 to report. Any information you can provide regarding their identity will help us contact them.
For updates regarding the landfill, please visit www.rawlinswy.gov or "Rawlins Public Works and Community Development" on Facebook. Other questions about snow? Find more information at www.rawlinswy.gov/snow.
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Friday, 2/24/23
The City of Rawlins Streets and Utilities crews continued to work on snow plowing and some removal today, with a focus on cleaning up drifts on Priority 1 roads (100% plowed at least once); removing dangerous snow piles and drifts throughout town; cleared up priority 2 roads (about 75% plowed); and continued to have a driver focused on bus routes.
Please continue to give our crews space to work safely and efficiently. Our crews will be working through the weekend. Nature permitting, our goal is to keep clearing drifts, and finalize plowing on all priority 1 and 2 streets, and bus routes.
The Landfill may be able to open tomorrow, Saturday, depending on how much the snow drifts back onto Gun Club Road overnight. The current snowbanks and drifts along the road and in the landfill average over 15 feet. We are hoping for a delayed opening on Saturday, 2/25/23 for only the MSW Transfer Station. Watch www.rawlinswy.gov or Facebook “Rawlins Public Works and Community Development” for information tomorrow.
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Thursday, 2/23/23 5:30pm
The City of Rawlins Travel Advisory will expire today, Thursday at 6:00 pm. Our Public Works, Fire, and Police Departments want to give a big thank you to everyone who stayed home during the storm and patiently gave us time to make progress on clearing the roads. Please continue to give our crews the room to work safely, and plan extra driving time.
Today our snow team plowed and removed snow on priority 1 (about 90% plowed); plowed priority 2 (about 50% cleared); dedicated
one operator to plowing of school bus routes; focused on known areas of very severe drifting throughout town; and removed snow in downtown. We will clean up any drifting tomorrow, and then continue working through the snow removal plan.
We do not expect to reach neighborhood roads until early next week unless it is priority route or on a bus route. If your road has significant snow-drift problems, such as drifts exceeding 3 feet, please call Public Works/Community Development at 307-328-4599 or online at
www.rawlinswy.org/concern and we will add it to the list. Please keep in mind that when we go into neighborhoods, there will be a snow windrow created which may block driveways or vehicles.
As you handle snow removal on your own, please remember:
** Watch for fire hydrants and please do not bury them. If there is one covered, call 307-328-4599 and our city staff can dig it out.
** Do not stack snow on city roads or on other’s property without permission. Putting snow into the road makes it harder for crews to clear the snow and creates dangerous driving conditions.
The City of Rawlins offices and facilities will open tomorrow, except for the CATS Bus (due to road conditions) and the Landfill (due to dangerous/closed conditions on 287).
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Wednesday, 2/22/23 at 2:00 pm
Serious Winter Storm: No Unnecessary Travel Advisory Extended Through Thursday at 6 pm
Interim City Manager Tom Sarvey has extended the No Unnecessary Travel Advisory through Thursday, February 23rd at 6:00pm. This winter storm is causing very poor visibility, extreme cold, significant drifting, and very slick roads. City offices and facilities will also remain closed.
Please do not travel today. Dozens of people have been stuck in town. Despite city crews working extended shifts, roads are basically not travelable. 4-wheel drive trucks are stuck throughout town, which can be dangerous and overburden our emergency responders.
We will be following our snow removal plan (www.rawlinswy.org/snow). We do not expect to reach non-priority roads until Friday afternoon at the earliest.
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Tuesday, 2/21/23 at 5:00 pm
City of Rawlins Interim City Manager Tom Sarvey has issued a Travel Advisory on February 22, 2023, from midnight until 6:00pm due to the National Weather Service’s prediction of 12 inches of snow. Residents are asked to limit motor vehicle travel unless necessary and urgent. Heavy snow, icy conditions, and winds are expected to create hazardous road conditions. If you do travel, please stay as far away from all snow removal equipment and other drivers as possible due to the roads being very slick.
City of Rawlins Public Works, Community Development, and Parks & Recreation Departments are working on snow plowing and removal. Our crews will be working tonight and tomorrow. We are following our snow removal plan and will be focusing on Priority 1 and 2 roads first.
Interim Manager Sarvey encourages residents, “For your safety and the safety of first responders and snow removal personnel, please stay off the roads when possible until conditions improve.” During a travel advisory, roads are not closed but no unnecessary travel is advised. A trip which could wait until the advisory is lifted should not be made. The City of Rawlins does not determine the necessity for any individual to report to work.
City of Rawlins Office and Facilities, including City Hall, Public Works/Community Development, Animal Shelter, Landfill, Recycling Center, Business Innovation Hub, Rawlins Family Recreation Center, Indoor Shooting Range, and the Rochelle Ranch Golf Pro Shop will be closed Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
Some reminders:
- To report roads with significant snow-drift problems you can visit www.rawlinswy.org/concern, call Public Works at 307-328-4599 during regular office hours or call the Police Communications Center at 307-328-4530 after-hours and on weekends/holidays/city closures.
- For situations such as emergencies, injury, and illness, plows are dispatched with the first responders to provide passage to the residential areas where accessibility is a concern.
- If your vehicle does become stuck, please make sure it has been removed from the main lane of travel. If your vehicle is in the lane of travel and left unattended, it can be towed at the owner’s expense.
- If four or more inches of snow has accumulated on non-priority roads, the City of Rawlins will plow those residential roads once Priority 1 and 2 have been plowed. When we plow roads, this can lead to windrows which may impede access to driveways or vehicles parted on the streets. We are focused on keeping the roadways open.
- There are expected to be very low temperatures with this storm. Please take measures to prevent frozen pipes, including allows drips from faucets and heat tape.
- Please check on your neighbors, especially those who may need extra assistance.
- You can find more information about the City’s snow removal plan, including the map, at www.rawlinswy.gov/snow.
Interested in receiving news from the City? Sign up for news via email or text at www.rawlinswy.gov/notifyme under “City of Rawlins News.” For more information, please contact Mira Miller, City of Rawlins Community Relations/PIO, at 307-328-4500 ext. 1022.