City moves snow as more accumulation expected
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A City of Warren Department of Public Works truck adds a load of snow Tuesday to a massive pile in the parking area at the south end of Market Street.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A City of Warren Department of Public Works loader drops snow from Clark Street into the bed of a city dump truck on Tuesday.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A City of Warren Department of Public Works truck adds a load of snow Tuesday to a massive pile in the parking area at the south end of Market Street.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A City of Warren Department of Public Works loader drops snow from Clark Street into the bed of a city dump truck on Tuesday.
Trending
While residents are using shovels and snowblowers, City of Warren crews are using front end loaders and container trucks to move snow.
With a winter storm watch in effect, with 6 inches or more of accumulation possible over the next two days, the city is trying to get rid of the snow it has.
"We've been moving snow for the last week or so," Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz said. "We start in the heart of the downtown area. We try to get around to all the metered spots. We do the narrow streets. We go up and do West Fifth."
"The guys have done a great job," he said.
City personnel may have been a little rusty at snow removal, but they're getting plenty of practice now.
"We haven't moved snow for a couple years," Holtz said. "We're making up for that nice, warm December we had."
Skid steers, a loader, and dump trucks -- counting the city's new 40-yard container truck -- are put to good use clearing snow off of streets and out of parking spaces.
"It's going well," Holtz said. "The equipment's holding up."
The new truck has improved the city's snow removal capabilities.
"The city's been able to move more snow more efficiently," Holtz said.
Once the snow is in the trucks, a crew member drives it to an out-of-the-way location.
"We take the snow and drop it in various places -- Betts Park, Clark Street…" Holtz said.
Dropping it into the Allegheny River is not allowed. Holtz said the presence of salt, dirt, and other contaminants has led to regulation against that practice.
Moving snow out of the heart of the city is a pretty common effort during the winter, but there's a little more urgency to the task right now.
"We're doing as much as we can," Holtz said. "We're trying to make room for the next snow."
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for late Wednesday through Friday morning.
Holtz advised those who have to go out in cold, snowy weather to take precautions and some extra time. "Bundle up, start five minutes earlier, clean your windshield, and be patient," he said.