City of Knoxville Public Service crews used about 1,000 tons of salt to keep the city's main streets, streets around hospitals and primary feeder streets open Sunday night and Monday morning.

Public Service trucks were on the road Sunday afternoon as the snowfall began and the temperature dropped.

"We already had all of our equipment loaded on Friday afternoon," said David Brace, deputy director of the public service department.

Brace said crews concentrated on the Level I (main streets carrying the highest volume of traffic in the city and those around hospitals) and Level II streets (streets connecting main streets and major feeder streets) until midnight. Those streets receive priority over neighborhood streets in the early stages of a winter storm.

At midnight the crews met at the city's Lorraine Street Garage and then took a break from 1 a.m. until 3:30 a.m. before going back on the road to ready the main streets for the morning commute.

By early afternoon on Monday Public Service employees were monitoring the situation before deciding what action it will take later today and overnight.

"We feel like the Level I and Level II streets are in good shape and we'll work on them as needed and respond to emergencies," Brace said.

The city used about half of its salt supply but has reordered and expects to receive additional supplies as early as today.

The city will not start working on neighborhood streets until it has been re-supplied with salt.

More information about the Public Service Department, including the snow and ice plan is available at knoxvilletn.gov/snowplan.