Politics & Government

Plowing, Digging Out Continues Sunday in West Hartford

By 11 a.m., Public Works reported that 80 percent of West Hartford's roads had been opened.

After imposing a mandatory rest break for plow drivers and other Department of Public Works employees, Director John Phillips reported Sunday morning that "great progress" was being made clearing West Hartford's roads.

Early morning brought new challenges with single-digit temperatures making roads slippery, and loads of snow freezing in the beds of trucks.

At 11 a.m., 80 percent of West Hartford's roads had reportedly been opened, according to Phillips.

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Arterials – the town's main roads – are relatively wide open, he said, considering the amount of snow that had to be pushed out of the way.

Progress is on track for all roads to be open by the this afternoon, Mayor Scott Slifka said. "I anticipate lifting the state of emergency at 4 p.m.," he said.

Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Drivers will find some lane shrinkage and blind spots in several areas in town,  so please drive cautiously and be alert," Phillips said. "After we completely open and push back our neighborhoods' roads we will be redirecting staff and resources to site line and lane shrinkage issues. We are also strategizing about how best to give our cul-de-sacs and dead ends the attention they deserve and clear as best we can the massive piles in all of them."

Phillips has been at work since early Friday morning, and kept several staff members on call during the rest break Saturday night to address punch list items and respond to any emergencies. He said thankfully, there were no emergencies.

"We are very much on top of the disaster relief effort, all be it a very labor intensive and long process," he said.

A decision has not yet been announcing about the opening of West Hartford Public Schools on Monday, although Kingswood Oxford has already announced that they will be closed.

Additional updates will be provided later on Sunday.


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