by Julie Gowel ·
Friday, February 6, 2026
Harvard’s new director of public works experienced a trial-by-fire, or rather, ice, in his first few weeks on the job when the town had its largest snowstorm in over four years on Jan. 25 and 26. The official total for Harvard as reported by major news organizations was 17 inches, a depth not seen since the January blizzard of 2022, during which the town was buried under just shy of 2 feet of snow.
Nearly two weeks later, residents are still struggling with colossal snowbanks, ice buildup on roofs, and altered road conditions throughout town.
Eric Ryder might be new to Harvard, but he is not new to public works, or snow removal. In an interview with the Press, Ryder discussed how he prepared for the storm, worked throughout it, and continues to deal with the ramifications of significant snowfall.
“One of the biggest challenges,” said Ryder, “was the duration and intensity of the storm. It wasn’t just heavy snow. There was steady snow over a long period, with low visibility and long hours for staff.”
Initial storm response, according to Ryder, included a focus on keeping main travel lanes open. “We’re out there when visibility is at its worst,” Ryder explained, “trying to keep lanes passable for both public safety and for residents who need to get out.” Side streets, intersections, and sidewalks weren’t fully cleared until nearly five days later.
“My staff works long hours,” Ryder said, underscoring the pride and effort that goes into every storm cleanup. “When you have this amount of snow come down, there’s a lot of frustration from residents, and we understand that.”
For seniors and residents with mobility challenges, the Department of Public Works does its best to keep sidewalks and crossings accessible, though icy conditions and deep cold can limit how close to bare pavement crews can get.
An added layer of complication is that relocation of snow is necessary. “We’re out taking care of blind spots at the end of roadways, snowbanks, and sidewalks,” said Ryder. “With this amount of snow, there’s minimal places to put it.” Snow had to be loaded into town dump trucks and carted to DPW headquarters and dumped in the back of the property.
It wasn’t until overnight on Thursday into Friday, Jan. 29 and 30, that DPW crews could focus on widening roadways to make them passable for two vehicles. Narrow side roads and residential lanes presented especially tricky work. “They all have their challenges,” Ryder admitted, “but those tighter roads require extra passes to make sure larger vehicles like school buses and emergency vehicles can get through.”
With subfreezing temperatures already established, Ryder stresses caution for drivers. “Even treated salt doesn’t work as well at single-digit temperatures,” he says. Bright sunshine during the day will begin to melt the snow onto the roads, which will quickly refreeze as soon as the sun sets. “Drive cautiously and give yourself plenty of time,” Ryder advises residents.
Talk of dangerous intersections and reduced visibility could be overheard at the library and General Store in the weeks following the storm. Ryder encourages residents to report visibility issues from snowbanks or dangerous conditions directly to the DPW office by calling 978-456-4130, or by emailing dpwdirector@harvard-ma.gov. The department tracks concerns and assigns them to crews daily.
And what about the occasional mailbox that disappears under a snowbank or gets hit during plow work? Ryder’s crew will replace damaged posts. Contact the DPW to report any damage caused by town snow removal efforts.
Ryder also has a pro tip to reduce residents’ frustration with plows. He said as counterintuitive as it may seem, townsfolk should shovel snow to the right side of their driveway to reduce the likelihood that town plows will push snow back into a freshly cleared driveway.
Ryder said the DPW has around 700 tons of salt on order. While there is no snow in the extended weather forecast, this is New England. It is always best to prepare for the worst.