Bellevue city crews worked through the night, plowing, sanding and applying de-icer to clear priority routes for emergency vehicles, morning commuters and transit. However, except for these priority arterials, most roads in Bellevue remain extremely icy and hazardous, officials said Friday morning. The city is continuing to ask people to stay off roads, so crews can de-ice and plow as many roads as possible before potential snow and high winds forecast for the weekend arrive.

During the night the snowfall let up, and crews were able to start working on clearing some secondary arterials and neighborhood routes. But compacted snow has formed a hard layer of ice on most roads that is difficult and slow to remove.

Crews may not be able to get to all streets in the city before the next round of bad weather arrives. They are concentrating on de-icing, plowing and sanding priority and secondary arterials and neighborhood priority routes as quickly as possible .

(A map of the city’s snow response priority arterials can be viewed at www.bellevuewa.gov/pdf/)Transportation/snow_response_priorities_map.pdf

“If people must drive, they should have traction devices such as chains, cables or studded tires,” said Mike Jackman, Utilities Operations and Maintenance assistant director. “But even then, we still feel the safest thing to do is stay off the roads, and that will make it easier for us to de-ice and sand as many roads as we can before the weekend.”

The forecast for the weekend calls for more snow and possible strong winds that could result in power outages. The city is asking residents to check their emergency supplies and make sure they are prepared ahead of the potential windstorm and snow this weekend.

As of 5 a.m. Friday, the following roads remain closed:

SE 46th Street between 148th Ave and 150th Ave

SE 32nd Street from 128th to Richards Road

119th Ave SE at 4400 block

Drivers who cannot navigate a road should make every attempt to move their vehicles completely off the roadway. Parallel park as close to the curb as possible if you must park on the road. Don’t park sideways on the road or in an intersection.

If you have to leave your car, place your phone number visible on the dashboard. Abandoned vehicles may be towed. To avoid being impounded, return to your vehicle as soon as practical.

City community centers remain closed, including the Bellevue Botanical Garden and Garden d’Lights, and all recreational programs are canceled.

Bellevue is operating an emergency overnight shelter at Crossroads Community Center, 16000 N.E. 10th St., from 9:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Crossroads will not be open until 9:30 p.m. City Hall is open until 5 p.m., and the public is welcome to come in to get warm.

Allied Waste trucks generally do not run if snow or ice prevent safe collection on neighborhood streets. If garbage, recycling or yard debris are not collected, the city advises taking materials back inside. A double load of garbage, recycling and yard debris will be collected at no additional charge on the next regularly scheduled collection day (a week later).

Excess materials due to missed collection can be put in a temporary container, such as a box or paper bag marked “Garbage,” “Recycling” or “Yard Debris.” If you have questions concerning your collection, call Allied Waste’s customer service at 425-452-4762.

More Tips:

• If you have a life-threatening situation, call 911.

• To report hazardous road conditions, down or damaged stop or yield signs, call city of Bellevue Utilities 24-hour emergency number 425-452-7840.

• To report gas leaks, power outages, and down power lines, please call Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773.

• If you use a grill or hibachi to cook or a backup generator, keep them outside with the back up generator. They can produce deadly Carbon Monoxide gas!

• If you have any questions about the food being spoiled: When in doubt, throw it out!

• To report a water main break at your home or business, lack of water, hazardous road conditions, down or damaged stop or yield signs, please call city of Bellevue Utilities 24-hour emergency number 425-452-7840.

• Build Emergency Kits for your family to have at home, in the car and at school or work. Your kit should sustain you for 72 hours or longer. Place in your Emergency Kit:

Food, water, first aid kit, a small tool kit, seasonal clothing, eye protection, flashlight with batteries, gloves, sanitary supplies, sleeping bags and extra blankets. Remember to add those special supplies if you have small children or you care for a someone with special needs. Items for your pets should also be included.

• Outdoor faucets and pipes, and pipes in unheated garages and crawl spaces are especially vulnerable to freezing. Insulate them with newspaper, rags or other insulating material. Cover with plastic and secure with string or wire. It’s okay to insulate the outside of your meter box, but please don’t put materials such as Styrofoam peanuts inside, as this makes it difficult to perform periodic maintenance. For illustrated details on how to prevent frozen pipes, see www.bellevuewa.gov/pdf/Utilities/Preventing_Frozen_Pipes.pdf

• If a water pipe breaks inside your home or business, immediately turn off the main water shut-off valve and/or water meter to control flooding and water damage. Then call a plumber. The main water shut-off valve is usually located in the basement, garage or outdoors by the foundation. If there is no main shut-off valve, there is a valve in the meter box that you may use in an emergency. Turn clockwise with an adjustable wrench.

• Stay inside if possible instead of trying to navigate slippery walkways or roads. If you must go out, have traction devices in your vehicle. Test new chains to make sure they fit (some may not, even though the box says they fit a certain model). Take a cell phone with you in case your car gets stuck.

• If you are taking a bus, check to see if schedules have changed because of weather conditions. Bus service is limited.

• Roads that seem dry or just wet may actually be slippery with black ice. Take it slow in ice and snow when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady areas; all are hot spots for black ice.

• Keep sidewalks next to your home clear of ice and snow, but be careful not to overexert yourself.