The City of Beavercreek is enhancing its winter weather response this year with new equipment and technology funded through a $32,500 grant from the Ohio EPA’s H2Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant Program.

The grant helps local governments offset costs while encouraging environmentally responsible practices. Beavercreek used the funds to purchase snow removal equipment, including plows and brine tanks, to outfit two pickup trucks. These smaller vehicles will enable crews to more efficiently clear tighter areas, such as cul-de-sacs, where larger trucks have difficulty maneuvering.

The city also purchased three roadway temperature sensors with the grant. The sensors provide real-time road surface temperatures, helping staff determine when to apply brine and salt, and how much to use. City officials say these upgrades will allow public service crews to respond more effectively and improve road safety during winter storms.

Each year, before winter weather arrives, the City of Beavercreek’s Public Service Division reviews its winter weather plan. The city is responsible for maintaining more than 577 lane miles of roadway. Its mission is to keep roads safe while remaining fiscally and environmentally responsible. When conditions allow, crews pretreat roadways with a brine solution to reduce the amount of salt needed during and after snow events.

The city is divided into 21 designated snow routes. During snow events, maintenance operations prioritize major thoroughfares, including Dayton-Xenia Road, North Fairfield Road, Kemp Road, Beaver Valley Road, U.S. 35, and Indian Ripple Road. Residential and neighborhood streets are addressed once the primary routes have been cleared and snowfall has stopped. 

Residents are asked to remove parked vehicles from streets during snow events, as they can be difficult for plow drivers to maneuver around and can slow down snow removal efforts. This is especially important in cul-de-sacs, which are already challenging and require extra time to clear. The city maintains more than 300 cul-de-sacs, adding to the complexity of winter operations.

City officials remind drivers to keep a safe distance from snowplows, which may make sudden stops or turns. Motorists are encouraged to give themselves extra time when traveling during winter weather. Residents are also asked to check their mailboxes to make sure they are secure. While snowplows rarely strike mailboxes directly, the force of snow pushed from the plow blade can dislodge unstable ones. 

For more information, visit beavercreekohio.gov/publicservice or contact the division directly by calling (937) 427-5540 or emailing publicservice@beavercreekohio.gov.