January in New England is not for the faint of heart, especially for Department of Public Works employees. As winter flexed its muscle over the past two weekends, Harvard’s DPW crews faced two distinctly challenging snowstorms.
Two weeks ago on Saturday, Jan.11, a wintry mix began in the early morning. The storm was a slow-moving system, delivering light but steady snowfall over an extended period, causing road conditions across the state to be less than ideal. First responders in Harvard were dispatched to numerous crashes on Route 2 and Interstate 495, as well as a few accidents in town.
Grumbling from residents regarding the state of the roads on the 11th prompted the Press to ask DPW Director David Smith for an after-action response.
“Two of our CDL [commercial drivers license] drivers were out sick, which doesn’t sound like much, but that’s nearly 20% of our work force,” said Smith. Additionally, he said that two major pieces of snow removal equipment broke down during operations, leaving the team shorthanded and scrambling to adapt.
Despite these setbacks, the crew managed to scrape the roads and maintain passable conditions. They wrapped up operations late Saturday evening, allowing the team to rest briefly before resuming work Sunday, Jan. 12. “[The crew] did a great job under tough circumstances,” Smith added. “Our biggest concern is always making sure they’re rested and safe.”
On Sunday, Jan 19, New England weather’s infamous unpredictability struck again with a storm that started with temperatures in the mid-40s and rain but quickly dropped to frigid numbers in the teens and turned to snow.
Smith monitored road conditions using the road weather information system (RWIS) cameras, watching for the point at which the pavement could be salted without the rain washing it away.
“The timing was critical,” said Smith. “We had to wait until the rain stopped, but get the salt down before the snow started sticking. It’s always a tricky balance.”
Little rest for the weary
Crews worked for over 24 hours, facing the challenge of snow that clung stubbornly to the roads once driven over. Some power-napped on makeshift cots in the DPW building while others grabbed a few winks in their trucks, persevering until 2 p.m. Sunday to ensure the roads were safe.
According to the Harvard police department, during the storm on Jan 11 first responders were dispatched to four vehicle accidents on Interstate 495, one on Route 2, and four crashes in town. The storm on the 19th also saw four accidents in town. There were no injuries reported in any of the incidents.
One factor that eased the burden of the second storm was the timing—it fell over a weekend and a federal holiday, meaning the DPW had less traffic and no school buses to contend with. “Having less traffic on the roads made a huge difference for us,” Smith said.
In contrast to the first storm, all equipment remained operational during the second event, and the full team was available, allowing for a smoother response. “[This time], everything was in shape, and that made all the difference,” said Smith.
As winter continues, Smith said the public works team is committed to learning from each storm and adapting to meet the demands of unpredictable weather. “[Our crew] keeps up the good work, and they’re the backbone of what keeps this town moving in storms like these,” Smith concluded.
Selectman Rich Maiore shovels his driveway, Jan. 20, while Ginger the golden doodle (inset) enjoys the powdery white stuff. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
