Coeur D'Alene Area: Road Clearing & Broadband Questions (Post Falls, Hayden: for sale, lawyer)

[mallthus]

We're looking at the possibility of relocating to CDA for work (nothing firm yet, but fingers crossed). Obviously, part of the decision making process is deciding whether we'll be able to afford living in the area!

Early research (combined with a bit of local knowledge...I've been to the area in the past and have an elderly and distant relative in CDA), has indicated that it's well within our means.

My question is about commuting to work. Knowing it can snow like crazy at times, I don't want to get stuck at home for days on end, not able to get to the office (which would be in downtown CDA).

I'm sure living in town proper (say, between Sherman and I90) wouldn't be any problem except on days that'd keep the office closed anyway.

As I read the threads here though, it looks like there's a lot to be said for areas like Post Falls and Hayden and I've seen some really interesting properties for sale down between US95 and west shore of the lake. How's the speed and quality of the snow clearing in these areas?

If I can't count on reliable and/or speedy clearing, how's the availability and quality of broadband Internet in these areas? After two years living in Oklahoma, I've discovered that you can have your cake and eat it too, by living where people are nice and housing is cheap and getting your fixes of the "big city" via the information superhighway! I certainly wouldn't want to give that up.

As for vehicles (in case that enters into anyone's thought process), we have an all wheel drive Volvo station wagon and will be replacing the family VW with another AWD wagon, an 4WD SUV or a 4WD pickup if we relocate to CDA. We're also likely to get some winter tires (unless there's consensus that they're not needed).

Thanks!

[fearnofish]

Get the studded tires or studless alternative.

Getting around after a heavy snowfall can be interesting at times, but usually the main arteries are cleared fairly quickly and kept as good as can be. We have never once been 'snowed in' because the roads were not cleared. Well in 2006 I think it was it came close but they had all the plows out 24/7 it was just the mass amount of snow fall upon snow fall that was coming in on top of each other.

You will find in downtown CDA they pile the snow up in the middle of the road then come back with a front end loader and a dump truck and remove the tall piles of snow.

4x4 would definatly be a good thing but also know just because you have a 4x4 and or studded tires does not mean you are invincible or you will end up like one of the idiots in the ditch at the first snow fall. One of the things I enjoy the most is going out and driving around during and after the first big snowfall and watching all the idiots slide through intersections and off the road ways. I know people who make really good money offering to pull them out, kind of like a ambulance chasing lawyer I guess you would say.

We have highspeed internet of some sort in Post Falls and in Coeur d'Alene and it was just fine for us. I have never heard anything bad but I am not the best to comment on that so I will leave it for someone else.

As long as you stay in PF, CDA, or Hayden area you should not have a problem commuting. You may have some problem north of Hayden and north or west of Rathdrum. That is mainly due to the main population base is the first priority to the snowplows then they spread out so plan accordingly.

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

You shouldn't have any issue with your AWD vehicles. With FWD, the biggest issue is usually getting in and out of your own driveway. I commute 42 miles each way, I've never been stopped due to snow. At least not directly, snow brought down some trees on the county road near us, I have had to saw my way out a couple times. In town, it would be VERY rare that you wouldn't be able to make it through.

[Shaner]

The city plans call for the entire city to be cleared within 32 hours. I have only been snowed in once, and it was my own fault because I did not shovel for 2 days when we had the record snowfall last December. You newer neighborhoods get cleaned quickly, and all the main roads (US95, Government, etc have teams assigned specifically to them.

As far as broadband. Time Warner offers 20mbs/sec which is what I have and it is fantastic. Liberty Lake is the large fiber backbone for the area (which is about 20 miles away) and so we have good connections unless your in the woods, then it gets hairy.

For the last 3 years I have a had a Audi A4 AWD and all seasons and had not had any problems and in my line of work, I drive to alot of places.

Good luck on the job, and if you got any questions hit me up!

[dieselperformanceidaho]

My wife and i both have 4wd with regular a/t tires. they do a good job with the roads. last year i made several trips between Cda and bonners ferrys doing service work. 15 trips to sandpoint in dec alone the roads where fine, most of the issues i saw where the result of the driver. I have 18 years exp driving on snow and ice so when it starts to slid i know how to correct some of the younger drivers and out of states are the ones i am more worried about. on ice even snow tires won't save you from the ditch if you are going to fast