Columbus activates downtown snow hauling plan after major storm, first use since March 2008 snowfall

City shifts from plowing to removal as snowfall strains curb space downtown

Columbus has activated its downtown snow hauling plan for the first time since 2008, expanding operations beyond standard plowing as crews work to restore passable streets after a major winter storm. The step is typically reserved for high-accumulation events when snow storage along curbs and sidewalks becomes a limiting factor, particularly in the city center where on-street parking, narrow lanes and transit stops reduce available space.

The storm’s snowfall in Columbus reached about 11.9 inches at John Glenn Columbus International Airport on Sunday, placing the event among the city’s highest single-day totals on record. While significant, it did not surpass the city’s benchmark daily snowfall of 15.5 inches recorded on March 8, 2008.

How the hauling plan works and why it changes street conditions

Under the hauling plan, crews may plow snow from curb lines into the middle of selected downtown streets, creating temporary ridges that are later loaded into trucks and removed from the area. This approach can improve access to curb ramps, intersections, bus stops and loading zones, but it can also narrow lanes and create short-term obstacles that require additional traffic control and staged work.

City crews have been operating around the clock since the storm began, prioritizing major roads first and then moving to secondary and residential routes. Officials have indicated that removal operations could extend beyond the initial plowing phase, with work continuing as conditions allow.

Road restrictions and travel safety during cleanup

The storm prompted severe travel restrictions across Franklin County, including a Level 3 snow emergency declaration during the peak of the event. That status limits road travel to essential trips and workers and is used only in the most hazardous conditions. As cleanup progressed, county officials reduced the emergency level, but drivers continued to face compacted snow, limited lane widths and reduced visibility at intersections.

City officials have also reiterated that pushing shoveled snow back into the street is prohibited, as it can refreeze and impede plowing and removal operations.

Public services and what residents can monitor

• Plowing and treatment progress typically follows a priority system that starts with major thoroughfares before moving to neighborhood streets.
• Downtown hauling is deployed when plowing alone cannot maintain functional lane widths and curb access.
• Travel advisories and emergency levels remain central indicators of when driving is discouraged or restricted.

With downtown hauling underway, the city’s snow response enters a labor-intensive phase focused on removal, not just redistribution.

Residents should expect shifting traffic patterns downtown during hauling operations, along with periodic towing enforcement where access is needed for plows and loading equipment. City and county updates are expected to continue as crews move from primary routes to broader residential coverage and begin clearing constrained areas in the urban core.