Trash Collection Canceled In Lakewood; JBLM Cuts Back Personnel

LAKEWOOD, WA — Crews in Lakewood continue to clear roads Tuesday morning after receiving less than an inch of snow Monday night. Crews continue to plow Priority 1 roads first, followed by residential streets, and apply sand to ice.

“Road conditions are still hazardous,” the city tweeted. “Compacted snow and ice are still present on many roads. Please drive slowly and extend your stopping distance. Hundreds of accidents occurred regionally yesterday. The City's night shift drove from 6:00 p.m. through 4:00 a.m. The shift began by applying brine to major roads and problem areas such as bridges and hills to loosen up the snow.

“Crews then returned to those areas with a plow to clear them. However, overnight snow accumulated and crews returned to Priority 1 routes such as South Tacoma Way, Gravelly Lake, Bridgeport, and Steilacoom. Crews continue around-the-clock work to clear your roads. Major arterials are prioritized first, followed by minor arterials, followed by potential hazards such as bridges and hills. Woodbrook and Tillicum minor arterials are high Priority 2 routes.”

In Lakewood, residential trash pickups were canceled Tuesday by LeMay-Pierce County Refuse. Affected customers were notified. Customers with trash service scheduled for Tuesday will be served Jan. 4, and those with recycling scheduled for Tuesday will be serviced Jan. 11.

In Pierce County, all yard waste sites are now open except the Key Center Transfer Center in Lakebay are open Tuesday. Full Pierce County road closures and winter weather updates can be found here.

The Pierce County COVID Testing Site in Lakewood was open Tuesday, and long lines were reported. Cheney Stadium also reopened for COVID-19 testing, though appointments are still required. The Bonney Lake, Enumclaw, and Grays Harbor Discovery Health COVID testing sites are still closed Tuesday.

The Joint Base Lewis-McCord canceled its early morning training. Only essential service members are required to report for duty. See here for full guidance on JBLM’s most recent inclement weather reporting instructions for service members and civilian personnel.

In Lakewood it is 28 degrees as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Temperatures have risen by about 10 degrees since Monday, which the National Weather Service said was the coldest day in Seattle in 31 years.

Snow and freezing temperatures are expected to continue for the rest of the week in Pierce County. In Lakewood, temperatures are expected to drop to about 19 degrees Tuesday night, and there is a 40% chance of snow that will accumulate less than half an inch. Wednesday will see a high near 29. More significant amounts of rain and snow are expected Wednesday night, and continue throughout Thursday. The National Weather Service predicts an accumulation of 1-3 inches. Temperatures will crack the 40s for the first time on New Year’s Day, and are expected to hover around the early 40s with rain for the next few days.

Pierce Transit is also offering free rides to the Lighthouse Activity Center and the Tacoma Rescue Mission in Tacoma as an extended warming center. Through Dec. 30, a number of local shelters in Tacoma and Puyallup are expanding overnight capacity. A full list can be seen on the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness website.

The following parks in Tacoma remain closed Tuesday:

• People’s Community Center Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Northwest Trek Wildlife
• Park Point Defiance Marina Tacoma Nature Center
• Fort Nisqually Meadow Park Golf Course W.W. Seymour Conservatory

Residents are still advised to stay home if possible. Anyone driving is advised to slow down, allow extra time, clear snow off windows, and put extra distance between the vehicle in front, especially snow plows. Vehicles are advised to stay at least 100 feet behind snow plows, and to not attempt to pass them. Washington State Police said that on Sunday, troopers responded to 166 collisions in Pierce and Thurston counties, and over 70 were reported Monday. Many collisions between plows and vehicles took place between plows and vehicles.

For more tips on how to drive safely on the ice and avoid frozen pipes, visit Bonney Lake’s winter preparedness page.