Fort Wayne, Ind. (WOWO) — With snowfall forecast for the weekend, the City of Fort Wayne is preparing to mobilize full snow-removal operations to keep roads safe for motorists and emergency responders.

The Fort Wayne Street Department will have full crews available to work around the clock if conditions require. The city is divided into 18 snow routes, with at least two plow trucks assigned to each route. Streets are cleared based on a three-tier priority system.

Priority one streets include arterial roads and major thoroughfares that are critical for emergency vehicles and law enforcement. These roads are the first to be plowed and salted. Once they are considered safe for travel, crews move on to priority two streets, which include collector roads and Citilink bus routes.

Residential streets fall under priority three and are typically plowed once there is an accumulation of three inches or more of snow. If snowfall resumes while crews are working on lower-priority streets and priority one roads become hazardous again, plows will be redirected as needed.

City officials note that no two snow events are the same, but under typical conditions it takes approximately 10 to 12 hours after snowfall ends to clear priority one and two streets. Residential streets generally take up to 48 hours to complete, provided crews do not need to return to higher-priority routes.

The Street Department is responsible for maintaining approximately 1,200 miles of city streets and roads.

Residents are encouraged to use caution when traveling during and after the storm and to allow snow crews adequate space to perform their work safely.

“We’re appreciative of our team at the Street Department. They are excellent public servants who have a strong commitment to providing outstanding services to the community,” said Mayor Sharon Tucker. “I also want to emphasize to residents the importance of staying safe and warm during the next several days.”

The City of Fort Wayne also wants to remind the public about the winter contingency plan. No one should be out in the cold, and our shelters are working together to ensure everyone who needs shelter will be welcome. Call The Rescue Mission at 260-426-7357 or any of the shelters listed in the link below for information. Individuals in need may also stop by any of the locations.