(COLORADO SPRINGS) — As snow continues to fall on Tuesday, Jan. 7, making driving more difficult, the City of Colorado Springs has had around 50 snowplows out since 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 clearing primary and secondary roads and laying materials to mitigate slippery conditions. According to Corey Farkas, the Public Works Operations and Maintenance Division Manager, crews started laying materials on the roads since the first snowflakes began to fall. Having a layer of snow mitigation material on the roads before the snow begins to accumulate turns the snow into an "oatmeal texture," which is ideal for plowing and makes conditions safer for drivers. The material the City uses is called "Ice Slicer," a natural salt mined in Utah that's safer than the rock salt commonly used in the East. Farkas said that it's been the most effective material they have used and is a large part of why you don't see as much rust on cars in Colorado Springs as in other places. Farkas said an added benefit is the natural color of the salt. "If you're putting white salt down on a white snowy road, you don't know where you've treated right and you might over-treat your roads, which can get really expensive." Farkas said that it's good to be ahead of the game with the snowy conditions, because as temperatures drop into the evening, the roads begin freezing again, and it makes mitigation more challenging. Crews will focus mainly on primary and secondary roads into tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 8, keeping the main roads clear enough, so that when snow returns on Thursday, Jan. 9, conditions won't become unmanageable. Tuesday's snow isn't expected to bring over six inches in accumulation, the minimum required in one snow event to put backroads and neighborhood roads on the snow mitigation plan. "We've had some pretty good weather for December and January in Colorado Springs," said Fakas. "So we've been a little spoiled this year. But again, these successive storms,... every other day when they start coming in, while we're out there working today, it takes us another day after the snow leaves to get everything cleaned up out there. And just as we're getting things tidied up on the roadways for this event, another event is going to happen." Though they will be very busy on primary and secondary roads, they do make exceptions when needed. "When we do get calls for neighborhood roads, maybe we've got a bus picking up kids at the bottom of a hill in a residential area, and that hill is slick and dangerous, we will get out there and treat that specific area. But that being said, again, we must make sure that our primaries and secondaries are cleared and safe first," said Farkas. "And then understand that as soon as people start calling on a hotspot, we start getting everybody calling. According to Farkas, if a hotspot is called in, they will evaluate whether the area needs material laid down, but with over 1,500 lane miles in the snow plan, the City has to prioritize the main roads and consider the safety of their crew. "The other thing that we get concerned with is fatigue," said Farkas. "You know, our drivers, they're going to be in 12-hour shifts for days on end out there, trying to do their best to clear these roadways. So we have to be very cognizant of our crews, and cycling our crews appropriately so that we make sure that that they are safe and the traveling public is safe." When roads get bad, the City always advises people to stay home for their own safety, if possible. And if drivers encounter a plow on the road, give it space. "When they're in the cab of that truck, they're operating a plow, they're operating a sander, or trying to navigate the roadways in a large piece of equipment with limited visibility," said Farkas. "So [if] you see them, [it] doesn't necessarily mean that they see you. So we ask that you give them space, as much space as you can possibly give them... Please don't be that person that is in a big hurry and cuts a plow off, because they can't stop on a dime. And it can be a very dangerous situation for all involved." When snow is falling heavily, plows often have to go multiple times over the same lane, often having to restart right after finishing it the first time. It isn't until the snow lets off that plows can make real headway in removing the snow. Farkas asked people to use their best judgment in staying safe on the roads and to have patience with crews. "They're trying to do the job to the best of their ability and get the streets cleared and safe for everyone," said Farkas. "So let's let them do their job and hopefully we'll all get out of this unscathed."