City of Tulsa is prepared for whatever Mother Nature delivers

TULSA, Okla. — No matter what Mother Nature decides to deliver Monday evening, the city of Tulsa said it is ready.

FOX23 News spent time at the salt dome on South Garnett Road Monday morning, talking with the city of Tulsa’s Street Maintenance Manager Tim McCorkell.

By mid afternoon, rain had moved into Tulsa, however freezing was not a high concern due to warm pavement temperatures. But if conditions change, McCorkell said they will be ready.

According to McCorkell, the city actually started planning for winter weather months ago. And this season, they’ve got some new equipment that should make the job much easier.

The city of Tulsa will soon have all 53 of its plow trucks fitted with carbide blades. The hardened steel means they will no longer have to waste time changing out blades during a shift.

“We can increase production and have less down time with the vehicles in the shop doing blade changes—so it ought to help us get the roadways cleared much quicker,” McCorkell said.

Time is money when you’re talking heavy snowfall like what we’ve experienced in the past.

The city of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from only portions of the Gilcrease Expressway and L.L. Tisdale Expressway, and all main streets. They are not responsible for clearing residential streets.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation is responsible for clearing all other portions of highways in the city limits.

McCorkel reminds drivers to keep their distance when they see one of their trucks out on the road.

“Give the employees the room to work,” he said. “Stay back away from the vehicles at least 200 feet because they are operating as an emergency vehicle.”

If someone passes one of their vehicles when its lights are on and something should happen to cause an accident the citizen may be liable for the issue.

Lt. Mark Southall with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol warns road conditions can change quickly.

“Most definitely the overpasses, anywhere around the IDL downtown is always bad, the bridge over the river is always really dangerous and cold,” he said.

Tim Mccorkell added that the city closely monitors the pavement temperature. They will only put trucks out on the road Monday evening if the temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below. If that happens, they will most likely just lay down brine.