The City of Bismarck wants to inform citizens about the use of snow gates during this spring blizzard event. “We haven’t been able to use the snow gates due to the seventeen plus inches of heavy, wet snow that we’ve received,” said Jeff Heintz, Public Works Service Operations. “Due to the snow’s high water content, the large amount of snow received and the inability of the gate to hold back the snow at this depth, we were prevented from using the gates. The snow gates are unable to keep large amounts of snow inside the blade, damaging the gates and stopping the plow,” said Heintz. City ordinance does provide for instances such as these when a snowfall event is of the magnitude that a snow emergency is declared.

Heintz said, “We do understand that this can be frustrating for residents. We ask for their patience as we do our best to clear the snow from the roadways.”

City of Bismarck Roads and Streets Department crews have completed snow emergency routes and are currently working on major arterial streets and school emergency routes. They will move into residential areas later this evening.