The City of Burien this week released a map that shows the routes its anti-icing equipment will take when the roads get icy or snowy.

This map may possibly find use as early as this weekend if the recent predictions of a cold snap hold up (we’ll be following the weather closely so stay tuned…).

Some interesting observations:

• It appears the city isn’t planning on de-icing First Ave South from SW 160th south, as that is apparently out of city limits (does First Ave South belong to Normandy Park in this area?)
• SW 152nd from Maplewild SW east to Ambaum Blvd. SW, a fairly-trafficked street that passes St. Francis School, is apparently not on the route either.
• Burien’s trucks will apparently shut off its equipment as it cruises along Sylvester Ave when it runs through the stretch that belongs to Normandy Park (see closeup of map below; I guess the NP de-icers will take over that area?)

Check it out below – is your street on it? (click image to see larger version, or click here to download a high-res PDF):

(To download a high-res PDF, click here)

Where Sylvester runs through Normandy Park, will Burien's anti-icers shut down?

Who is responsible for de-icing First Ave South south of SW 160th? Normandy Park?

Photographer Michael Brunk risked his life on Sea-Tac Airport’s tarmac to get these photos:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

During the 2008-2009 season, SeaTac Airport experienced just over 23 inches of snow, compared to an average of 12 inches. While airport operations continued during the higher than normal snowfall, some improvements are being made for the 2009-2010 season.

Alaska Airlines has added eight new de-icing trucks to their fleet and three “nurse trucks” that will shuttle fluid from storage tanks to the new de-icing trucks. The new de-icing trucks feature an enclosed operator cockpit that allows them to operate safely around aircraft while the aircraft engines are still running. This feature coupled with new procedures will allow Alaska Airlines to de-ice an aircraft much more quickly and efficiently using central de-icing pads that will use a “car wash” model.

The Port of Seattle — which is responsible for clearing snow and ice from runways, taxiways and the ramp areas — has also taken delivery of several new vehicles that were already on order prior to last year’s unusual snow event. Using several snow plows followed by snow brush trucks one runway can be plowed and cleared in 30-45 minutes.