Snow & Ice Removal

Winter weather in the Grand Junction area can be very unpredictable. There are years when the snow melts off once traffic picks up or the sun comes out, and there are years when snow stays on the ground for several months (due to an inversion). The usual abundance of Western Colorado sunshine has served our city well in all but the most severe conditions. 

When Grand Junction does experience a snow event, crews are sent out to spread salt onto the roadways. However, when temperatures drop below 20 degrees, the effectiveness of our melting agents decreases significantly. Once this happens, crews deploy their plows to remove as much snow off the road as possible. Keep in mind there are many different things that determine whether melting agents will work efficiently including traffic volume, time of the day/night, sunlight, and temperature.

Business Responsibility

Businesses sometimes hire private contractors to remove snow in parking lots. Unfortunately, many private contractors will push snow into the street which restricts stormwater runoff. Even temporarily this creates a serious hazard as well as a liability for the business owner and/or his contractor. Business owners are asked to discuss alternatives with contractors related to plowing snow into the street, and are reminded they are responsible for the actions of their private contractors.

Community Responsibility

The City needs the community's help to protect our friends, neighbors and visitors from possible injury related to snowfall and the ice that can result from unshoveled walkways that melt and freeze. When residents fail to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks, it forces pedestrians to walk on snow and ice-packed sidewalks or sometimes even into the street. This poses significant risk to seniors, kids walking to school and those who use a wheelchair or other assistive devices to get from one place to another. Grand Junction Municipal Code Section 12.16.090 requires that public sidewalks (the ones adjacent to the street) in front of homes and businesses must be cleared of snow, ice, and debris within 24 hours after every snowfall.

Snow should never be shoveled or plowed in the street where it can block water drainage. Please pile snow in yards so the grass and plants can enjoy the moisture. 

View a map of the snow route priorities (PDF). Please remember that City priorities for plowing include major arterials, and school and hospital routes. Residential streets are not plowed.