District crews haul snow to RFK Stadium site as Washington slowly reopens after prolonged ice storm

Snow hauling shifts cleanup strategy as packed ice lingers across neighborhoods

Washington’s snow and ice cleanup entered a new phase this week as District crews began hauling accumulated street snow to the RFK Stadium site, turning the large parking lots into a temporary storage field for removed material. City officials said the approach reflects the limits of conventional plowing after a storm that left behind a dense, hardened mix of snow and ice under sustained below-freezing temperatures.

By Wednesday, city leadership described a pivot from pushing snow to curb lines toward physically removing it from travel lanes and intersections. The goal, officials said, is to restore passable conditions where compacted piles have blocked crosswalks, narrowed streets, and created icy choke points that did not melt between storm days.

RFK lots used as a staging ground for “snow field” operations

The RFK Stadium campus—an expanse of asphalt with limited nearby residential use—has been used for snow storage during the current response. City leaders publicly described the resulting snow mound as roughly two stories high and extending the length of two football fields. Separate reports from crews on site described mounds reaching roughly a dozen feet or more as trucks continued to unload.

The hauling operation typically involves smaller equipment pushing snow from side streets to main routes, where larger loaders consolidate it into piles that are transferred into dump trucks. Those loads are then driven to the RFK lots, where heavy equipment compacts the deposit areas to manage space. Snow-melting equipment has also been used at the dump site, including a high-capacity unit on loan from an out-of-state transportation agency.

City officials cite “snowcrete” conditions and equipment strain

Officials described the storm’s aftermath as a layered, ice-hardened surface that is difficult to cut and remove without heavier machinery.

District agencies said the prolonged cold turned the remaining street accumulation into a hard pack that can damage lighter plows and slow progress on residential streets. Officials also acknowledged that the city’s public-facing plow tracking information did not consistently reflect where equipment was operating, adding to resident frustration.

As of Wednesday evening, District officials said major roadways were passable and most bus routes were operating, while cleanup continued on side streets and problem corridors. Public schools were scheduled to reopen Thursday with a two-hour delay, and local government operations were also expected to start later in the morning.

Regional storm totals and ongoing recovery

The storm’s impact extended across the metropolitan area, with nearby airports reporting several inches of snow and higher totals north of the District. With temperatures remaining low, officials indicated that improvements would depend less on melting and more on sustained mechanical removal.

• Hauling operations expanded after compacted piles persisted beyond initial plowing.
• RFK’s large lots enabled bulk storage and limited street-side buildup.
• Agencies said heavier machinery was being deployed to break up hardened accumulation.

City officials said crews will remain in the field until remaining residential and pedestrian access issues are addressed, with hauling expected to continue as conditions allow.