These roadways are the major arterial streets and have four or more travel lanes. These streets are given first priority since they provide the interconnecting link from all corners of the City. These streets will be plowed every snow event.

Also included are streets that provide access for emergency services such as fire stations, hospitals and the Police Department. School Zones in the City are also considered Priority 1 during normal opening hours.  Priority 1 streets will be maintained for all snow events.

These roadways are minor arterial and major collector streets and are generally streets that connect major arterial streets to residential streets.

Also included are streets that provide access to major office areas and business areas such as grocery stores and service stations. Priority 2 streets will be maintained for all snow events.

Selected local streets within residential and commercial areas will be plowed on a LIMITED basis AFTER priority ONE and TWO streets are passable. 

The first local streets to be plowed will be primary streets and loop streets through subdivisions.

This plan allows all residences to be in close proximity of a plowed street in the shortest amount of time.  The City will address the remaining residential streets as time permits and weather conditions warrant. The City attempts to plow local streets prior to times of greatest use, i.e. the hours when residents leave home and return from work, provided higher priority streets are passable. 

In order to clear the roadway, snow must be plowed to each side of the road.  This may leaves a pile of snow at the end of your driveway (called a windrow) or onto your sidewalk, which is difficult for our drivers to control.  In order for our drivers to provide the most efficient and cost-effective snow removal, continuous movement is required. It would be impossible for drivers to stop and clear each driveway entrance. 

Safety is also an issue, snow plows have limited rear visibility, and clearing each driveway would require the driver to back the truck up, putting children, animals, and other vehicles at risk of not being seen by the driver. 

Unfortunately, the City doesn't have the budget or manpower to go back and clear sidewalks or driveways.

To help with this issue, the City recommends that homeowners not shovel or blow snow into the street. If your street is plowed after you shovel, some snow will get back on your driveway and we understand that this can be frustrating. You can help by shoveling snow from sidewalks or driveways into your yard, as any snow placed in the street will likely be pushed back into your driveway by a passing snow plow.

The following video may help you avoid windrow

The Public Works on-Call Crew, in conjunction with weather reports, field staff and Police Department observations will decide when to begin snow or ice control operations on a case by case basis. The criteria for those decisions are:

Weather forecasts & temperatures

Snow accumulation

Drifting  of snow that causes problems for travel

Icy conditions which seriously affect travel

Time of snowfall in relationship to heavy use of streets

Snowbusters – Assist older adults in Louisville with snow shoveling this winter.  Contact Katie Tofte at by phone 303.335.4919 or email KTofte@LouisvilleCO.gov  for more information.

Boulder County also has a program for seniors 60yrs+ that need snow shoveling assistance, contact Cultivate.

The City of Louisville has a program called Snow Busters for seniors that are unable to shovel their sidewalks.   Contact Katie Tofte at 303.335.4919 or Email KTofte@LouisvilleCO.gov for more information.

Boulder County also has a program for senior residents needing shoveling assistance through Cultivate.

Residents can help by clearing packed snow and ice from the area around storm sewer inlets.

This will help water from melting snow and ice get to the storm sewer and out of the street and gutter.  This is particularly important during the freeze/thaw cycles of the spring when snow and ice melts and refreezes in driveway approaches and on the street, creating hazardous conditions.

Please help to keep them clear.

In an emergency, every second counts.

Snowplows are too big to go around a cul-de-sac.  That is why they come down the street, stop and turn around and leave before entering.

Cul-de-sacs are a Priority 4, which means they are one of the last streets to be plowed since they are a less-traveled road. Cul-de-sacs require a much smaller truck with a V-plow to maneuver around.  Both cul-de-sacs and half circles will receive a pass that is completely around the cul-de-sac perimeter to provide for accessibility to residents and passage of trash collection vehicles.

When deployed, the residential plows will take ONE PASS down the CENTER of every side street to prevent deep ice rutting and to keep the streets passable.

Residential areas will NOT receive de-icing materials.