Residents wait 3 days to be plowed out

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's now been more than 60 hours since it stopped snowing in western Massachusetts. But many people are still struggling to get out of their driveways.

Springfield's Dept. of Public Works Director said they couldn't get to small streets right away because they don't have enough big plow trucks. But people who were patiently waiting, well, their patience ran out quickly.

In some parts of Springfield, the city's plow trucks didn't plow small, residential streets until Monday afternoon. In the meantime many people, tired of waiting, dug themselves out.

Tomasina Mack who lives on Middlesex St. in Springfield told 22News “There were no cars parked on the wrong side, and I had to pay someone to move all that snow right there in front of my house because if I had to go somewhere, emergency, I'm a senior citizen, I wouldn't have been able to get out.”

Many residents told 22News they were happy to finally see plow trucks on Monday, but now, what used to be wide residential streets that could accommodate street parking have become narrow one-way streets.

Michael Pope lives on Wait Street in Springfield. He said in the past they’ve always been the last ones to be dug out. He said “It's like a stop and go, you know. People are backing up. Nine point turns into other people's driveways. It's insane.”

But problems don't stop at unplowed streets. Even if you make it out on to the road, if you're trying to leave a parking lot or a side street, it's hard to look over this pile, and see if it's safe.

Lorraine Russell of Ludlow said “Trying to get out of a street, it's an accident waiting to happen. Inch out, hoping no one's coming because they do tend to fly.”

The Planning & Economic Development Committee will meet with Allan Chwalek, Springifeld’s DPW Director, Wednesday at 4 p.m. to talk about this clean up delay.