With the official arrival of winter just a few days away the City of Knoxville's Public Service Department reminds you that its revised snow plan is now available at www.knoxvilletn.gov/snowplan.

The plan, update during the fall of each year, details how the city responds to various types of snow and ice events, how it prioritizes city streets for treatment and the resources the department has to combat winter storms. There are also descriptions of what constitutes Level I streets - the ones carrying the greatest volume of traffic or that carry traffic to hospitals - maps and even a list of frequently asked questions concerning the city's response to snowy conditions.

"Everyone sees our trucks out on the roads during storms or pre-treating the streets before bad weather arrives," said Public Service Director David Brace. "The snow plan provides a glimpse of the strategy behind what they see Public Service crews doing."

"People are interested in what we're doing because they have to drive through wintry weather, to work, to the store," he added. "They want to know what a Level II Street is, they want to know what our procedures are and the snow plan provides that information. Providing our customers access to the plans and schedules that guide our service delivery is important!"

City crews typically pre-treat streets with a brine solution - which helps prevent snow from bonding with the road surface and lowers the melting point - prior to the arrival of snowy weather. Pre-treatment, depending on the weather, can be done 48-hours prior to a snow or ice event and can be done at night or non-busy traffic periods.

Public Service began using its new Salt Brine Mixing and Deployment System last year which saved the city nearly $20,000 in salt costs alone for each major snow event.

In addition to focusing on keeping main routes open crews also respond to calls from the Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department for emergency services.