Coon Rapids Activates Early Morning Snowplow Sweep Following Heavy Snowfall

The city is on the move clearing streets starting with main roads at the crack of dawn on Thursday, with the snowplow crews firing up their engines at 4:30 a.m. to tackle the aftermath of heavy snowfall, according to an announcement from the City of Coon Rapids.

What began as a critical operation to keep main arteries flowing smoothly transitioned swiftly into an all-out plow offensive by 6:30 a.m., with teams dispatching across City-maintained streets, residential lanes, and dead-end dust bowls. Sidewalks are also on the cleanup agenda, with a promise to be clear within the 48 hours that follow.

In times when snow lays its claim three inches deep or more, the City has a standing mandate that cars must vanish from streetside parking positions until such a time as the plow's steel blade has kissed the curb, barrier-free.

The City signaled it's prepped to broadcast further snowplow bulletins if or when the skies drop another blanket that warrants a full plow, residents can keep an ear to the ground by ringing up the Snowplow Hotline at 763-755-2880, or steadier still, they can anchor themselves to email updates with a swift sign-up.

With safety stamped at the forefront, Coon Rapids doles out a civic call to arms for residents to dig out their nearest fire hydrants, maintaining a three-foot clearance zone — a clear hydrant can mean the difference in life-saving seconds during emergencies; the City hands an olive branch to those in need via a band of stand-up community volunteers, assistance, however, is not set in stone but folks can ask for a helping hand by submitting an online request.

Meanwhile, the City nudges citizens to brace for the April 1st lift of the overnight street parking ban, but prudence dictates that during these spring snowfalls, vehicles should steer clear of streets, as should any obstructions — the likes of basketball hoops and refuse bins — that stand in the way of the plow's path to pristine streets.