Public Works Keeps Roads, Sidewalks Clear of Snow

Greenbelt Public Works was still cleaning up on Tuesday, six days after the unusual early spring snowstorm last Wednesday, March 21, according to Jim Sterling, GPW director. A full crew of 40 to 45 employees worked 11.5 hours straight starting at 5 a.m. on Wednesday to clear the snow, after pre-treating the roads with salt the night before. “We had the sidewalk crew, the salt truck drivers and plow truck drivers all in,” Sterling said. “We had our salt trucks out by 8 a.m. when I think the snow started to come down. By 10 it was coming at such a fast rate we switched over to plows. Thankfully the snow didn’t last too long even though the worst of the storm was probably from 10 to 3:30.” Sterling said the roads were passable by 4 p.m.

“There were a lot of priority sidewalks that we maintained during the storm. I think we did a good job keeping those open and keeping them clean,” said Sterling. School areas (if open), Roosevelt Center and the police station are priorities. On Thursday the lower priority sidewalks were cleaned up and the first and second priority sidewalks were checked for ice and new snow.

Read the rest of this story in the March 29 News Review

Snow storm at Roosevelt Center on March 21.
Snow storm at Roosevelt Center on March 21.
This snowman's name is Spring Bringer, built by Li Yuanjie and others.
This snowman’s name is Spring Bringer, built by Li Yuanjie and others.

.

A heron with cold feet sits on a fallen tree at the lake at Buddy Attick Park.

Fierce storms on Thursday, June 19 brought flooding to the Youth Center, Braden Field and St. Hugh’s Church among others.