Winter Storm Juno Runs Worcester $1.5 Million in Clean-Up Costs

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Saturday, January 31, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

According to early numbers from City Hall, the city of Worcester will spend nearly $1.5 million in clean-up costs due to Tuesday’s record breaking blizzard.

“This was a record-breaking event that dropped nearly three feet of snow in our laps. That amount of snow will take time to clean up," said City Manager Ed Augustus.

As of Wednesday, the DPW used 1,000 tons of salt and 200 tons of sand on Worcester's roads over the last two days. DPW Customer Service has fielded 1,556 calls from residents over that same period.

In December, GoLocal reported that it costs the city on average $70 per ton of salt. So with $70,000 attributed just for salt, what are the other costs to the city?

According to Paul Moosey, the DPW Commissioner, the average cost per hour for hired sanders is $71.48 and the average cost for hired plows is $78.20. 

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, all 400 pieces of DPW equipment were used to clear the 500 miles of streets in Worcester. For 33 hours straight from Monday night into Tuesday, DPW workers worked on clearing roads during the storm. According to numbers from the DPW, for those first 33 hours, the city will pay around $900,000 to city employed and contracted plow operators, and sand and salt truck drivers.

After a short break, the DPW workers were back out there at 5 AM on Wednesday.

The city is tracking expenses and is hoping to count on FEMA reimbursements to contribute to the costs. According to City Hall, the offices of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. James McGovern, Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito have offered their support in those efforts.

On Friday morning, thanks to Lt. Gov. Polito, MEMA sent 24 pieces of equipment to help with the snow removal around the city.

Related Articles

• Worcester Hit Hard by 33.5 Inches of Snow in Worst Storm in City’s History
• MEMA Sends Snow Removal Equipment to Worcester
• City Manager Augustus Declares Snow Emergency in Worcester
• NEW: More Snow Expected Thursday Night Into Friday in Central MA
• Worcester to Crack Down on Sidewalk Snow Clean-Up
• Great Sledding Spots in Central MA
• Worcester Public Schools: 2 Hour Delay on Friday
• City of Worcester Snow Clean-Up Update
• 4 to 8 Inches of Snow Expected in Worcester County Saturday
• NEW: Worcester Public Schools CLOSED on Thursday Due to Snow Removal
• Central Mass Expecting Two Feet of Snow Over Next Two Days

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