Snow Surplus Causes Headaches

Augering into the mound of snow left from an overnight storm, Aaron C. Rue carved a path Thursday down the sidewalk toward the driveway at his Watertown home. With tags still attached, the new snowblower sent a plume of powder through the air into his South Hamilton Street yard. At the end of the walk, he reversed course and quickly rotated the machine's chute to keep it from pointing toward the street.
Some residents aren't as courteous as Mr. Rue. Hurried homeowners will plow, snowblow and shovel snow into already clogged streets, leaving city employees to clean the mess.
"It's always there," city Department of Public Works Superintendent Eugene P. Hayes said. "It's really been starting again recently."
As snowbanks get taller, a "put it anywhere there's room" attitude begins to creep in.
Not only is it discourteous, it's against the law to throw snow into the road: code 265-11.1.
The DPW has begun distributing fluorescent signs to offenders who allow contracted plow operators to push the snow into the road, or shovelers who use the street as a dumping ground for excess snow.
"We just want people to know what the rules are," Mr. Hayes said. "We got out there with the assumption that they don't know any better."
Leaving snow in the road can cause cars and even plows to slide on relatively bare roads, Mr. Hayes said.
"Most of our plow accidents happen when we're either pushed sideways or when the cars are pushed sideways into us," he said. "And it's because of obstructions like that."
Finishing his driveway on Academy Street, an elderly man touted his snowblower's ability to cut time and its ease.
"It's easier on the heart," he said. "With this, it takes me about 45 minutes to get the driveway and sidewalk."
The man suggested that a snowblower has the ability to throw snow farther into his yard, which inhibits snowbank growth. He wished not to be identified for this report: He fears vandals.
Another elderly man, with a similar propensity for anonymity, said he prefers to use a snowblower. Shoveling hurts his back and limits where he can put the snow, he said. Both men were sending the streams of snow into their yards.
Mr. Hayes suggested that snowblowers allow people the option of pointing to areas where snow hasn't built up.
"Shoveling is great the first time, but when you get your second or third storm, it becomes a hassle," he said. "We don't want anyone having heart attacks out there either."
Commercial contractors will push the snow where there's room. Residents should ask contractors where they plan to push the snow before hiring them, Mr. Hayes said.
The superintendent also offered other tips for snow removal:
* Try to shovel the end of the driveway before driving away. Trying to punch through the snow left by city plows can get you stuck, leaving a portion of your car exposed to traffic.
* Removing snow to the left of a driveway will sometimes decrease the amount of snow that is pushed into its mouth.
* Clearing snow from fire hydrants isn't mandatory, but it is a safe option. Crews from the fire and water departments will regularly remove snow from hydrants.
* Removing snow from sidewalks is mandatory. It can be done within 24 hours after a snowfall. Homeowners who don't can expect to be cited by the city Codes Department.