Residents Mostly Satisfied with Plow Jobs

The big snowstorm that blanketed Rhode Island Saturday led to plowed streets and smiles on residents’ faces on Sunday.

People across the state on Sunday sang the praises of local plow crews for getting the roads clear quickly and efficiently after the storm—a welcome change from the numerous complaints after many storms last winter.

In East Providence, Bill Wilson said “this is the first time in 20 years I can say yes, they did a good job.”

Joan Seifert Hofer agreed.

“I must say that the state and city and all other plow drivers did an awesome job plowing last night .. I can’t remember a time when the roads were down to bare pavement after a snowstorm and widened the way they should be,” she said.

In Middletown, Liz Morris was happy that her cars weren’t boxed in this year.

“I think they did a great job this year,” Morris said. “Usually they plow huge piles in front of our cars causing them to be boxed in but they didn’t do that as much this year so it was easier to shovel out.”

In Portsmouth, Barbara Aguiar said that “everything was done in a timely manner.”

In North Kingstown, residents said similar.

“Ten Rod Road is looking good,” Kristin Bohman Auger said Sunday afternoon.

“Indian Corner looks great!” said Terri Croft.

“I’m Happy that the town’s snowplow driver are home safe after a 21-hour shift,” said Janette Cole.

Newporters also offered praise. Melissa O’Brien said the plows did a great job and she saw four or five plows go down her street before she went to bed Saturday night.

The same story happened in Coventry.

“It’s awesome,” said Sunshine Edwards, noting that sometimes the plow drivers have things stacked against them.

“I really wish [people] would not plow their driveways into the nicely plowed road and snow blow the sidewalks into the road,” Edwards said.

So why the glowing praise this time? City officials in different communities offered similar reasons:

The storm occurred on a Saturday, which meant there was no conflict with commuters.

The storm also ended at around midnight, which gave crews time during the early-morning hours on Sunday to work on streets that were mostly free of cars.

Crews have not had much work this winter, so energy levels were high and private contractors, anxious to get some plowing income, were chomping at the bit and ready before the snow started to fall.

Cities and towns also didn’t have to tap their snow budgets and salt supplies all that much before the Saturday storm.

The positive response was music to the ears of city and town officials.

Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung said he woke up Sunday to “numerous notes” from residents about the snow removal effort.

He said it’s thanks to the “tremendous and tireless team” at the Public Works and Highway Division for “doing such a great job in conditions that were much worse than originally forecast.”