WESTBROOK – Snow banks still loom tall in Westbrook and Gorham, but public works employees of both communities are working around the clock to clear the remnants of last weekend’s historic storm.

Though the storm dropped more than 30 inches locally, it did not cause any major damage or disruption to school and city activities.

“We got the initial call to respond at 1:30 a.m. on Friday morning. Our crews were working around the clock until 3 on Sunday afternoon,” said Tom Eldridge, Westbrook’s public services director.

Eldridge said his team was down by three members, and the remaining 16 public works snowplow drivers and two supplemental people from other departments worked in shifts to keep the major roads passable – even during the height of the storm, from midnight on Friday until Saturday morning.

“The crew did an outstanding job in difficult conditions,” said Eldridge. “I’ve been here for a long time and I’ve never seen so much snow in one storm.”

Westbrook School Superintendent Marc Gousse agreed the public works department staff did an excellent job with the storm.

“The only reason were able to get back in school [on Monday] was because our custodian support staff and the public works people did an over-the-top job in clearing the entrances and sidewalks,” Gousse said.

Gousse, who spent Saturday afternoon checking on buildings within the district, said snow drifts blocked doors and some were as tall as the low-hanging roofs, including at least 5 feet of snow drifted in front of the vocational building.

But in less than 24 hours, the snow was cleared and school returned to its normal schedule, much to the chagrin of some students, including Elizabeth Torrey, a student representative on the City Council, who said she was very happy to have the Friday snow day.

“Calling off school was a no-brainer, there was no way I wanted kids or adults on the road,” said Gousse.

Friday was only the second time Gousse has called off school this year. He said there are five days built in to the school year calendar to use as snow days. The few sports teams affected, boys basketball and swimming, were able to reschedule their matches.

Mayor Colleen Hilton publicly thanked the public services department during a City Council meeting on Monday night, saying the snow plows did “an exceptional job clearing the roadways.”

Gorham Public Works Director Robert Burns said blowing snow during the weekend blizzard hampered visibility for his plowing crews.

With no previous snow banks serving as guides along roads, some plow drivers had difficulty seeing in whiteout conditions, but there were no plowing mishaps.

Citing an unofficial weather service report, Burns said Gorham received 35.5 inches.

“It was an arduous storm,” Burns said, adding that he was glad when winds calmed. “I think we set some records.”

Gorham is responsible for maintaining about 160 miles of roads, and Burns said his plow crews worked from Friday morning to Saturday evening.

A mixed bag of snow and rain on Monday followed on the heels of the blizzard. Burns said numerous car crashes occurred “in the little event” on Monday during the evening commute.

“The rain flash froze between 4 and 6 p.m., Burns said.

The Gorham Police Department reported that an accident on Monday closed a section of the Bernard P. Rines Bypass from South Street (Route 114) to Narragansett Street (Route 202) at 4:08 p.m. until 5:41 p.m. Bypass commuters and trucks were diverted through Gorham Village, backing up traffic along South Street to the village square.

According to Eldridge, the city had 15 plow trucks, along with a grader, which can be used to scrape the road, and loader on the roadways. His team worked in shifts of 15 to 18 hours or more at a time, trying to keep the main roads clear.

All the side roads have been cleared, as well, even after Monday afternoon’s short snowfall. Public service crews will be out all week clearing off sidewalks and removing excess snow, which Westbrook trucks to Sappi Fine Paper.

“We’re hoping to get a break moving forward,” Eldridge said.

Snow drifts pile up in front of the Congin School.       
In just one day, William Clarke Drive in Westbrook went from an almost early spring vista to a mid-winter panorama.    
In just one day, William Clarke Drive in Westbrook went from an almost early spring vista to a mid-winter panorama.   
A perfect circle was naturally carved out of the river ice, with the center spinning slowly around, in this photo taken Tuesday from on top of the Black Bridge in Westbrook looking toward the Sappi Fine Paper mill.    
For many people, the snow from Saturday’s blizzard piled high against doors and windows.