Snowplows out in full force By Cristina Kumka Staff Writer
Posted Feb. 22, 3:57 p.m.
As the snow accumulated, public works employees in the Northern Valley Region were ready for it.
Snowplow trucks were spotted plowing and sanding streets earlier this afternoon, a contrast to the Feb. 12 snowstorm.
In Englewood, it seemed no one could blame a holiday for a lack of snow removal, as officials did during the last storm.
At about 2 p.m. today two snowplow trucks were seen moving the accumulating snow on some of the city’s steepest hills, as a motorist passed by without a hitch.
The picture was far different than Feb. 12 when officials said the DPW was nowhere to be found on the East Hill. The counties highest number of car accidents, more than 100, happened on Speer Avenue and other hilly, icy roadways.
Officials said the city just wasn’t prepared to plow and sand the roads in time. But this afternoon at about 1:40 p.m.Speer Avenue was clean.
DPW Director Clyde Sweatt said the city was “better prepared” today in light of the “bad judgment call” on Feb. 12 that led to the department not being ready to fight the few inches of snow that quickly change to ice after melting on the roads.
In Tenafly, snowplows were also out although not as many were seen cleaning the roads. Residents cleaning off their cars and shoveling their driveways was the more common sight.
The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y., has issued a winter weather advisory, meaning periods of rain and freezing rain expected tonight may cause hazardous driving conditions.
The freezing rain is expected to begin at about 6 p.m. as temperatures are expected to drop below freezing.
