BRUNSWICK

The first flakes of the fast-moving snow storm that hit the northeast arrived late Thursday morning, and the Midcoast is preparing for 8 to 12 inches of snow. Local schools shuttered for the day including Brunswick School Department, School Administrative District 75, Lisbon School Department and Regional School Units 1, 2 and 5.

The city of Bath announed it is closing its offices at noon Thursday and the Bath Skatepark will be closed Thursday so folks can “Hunkah down… stay safe.”

Brunswick Town Office and Recreation Department is closing at noon. Topsham Town Hall, Topsham Public Library and the Topsham Solid Waste Facility are closing at noon as well.

Bath Iron Works also announced it is closing facilities early except for essential personnel. There will be no second shift and third shift should call the the hotline for a status.

The U.S. National Weather Service out of Gray has a winter storm warning into effect until 10 p.m. and predicts 8 to 12 inches of snow accumulation. Snow will be heavy at times, expected to end around sunset or early evening. 

The storm will mean snow covered roads and blowing and drifting snow, which could lead to hazardous travel conditions. Winds will blow 10 to 20 miles per hour with gusts up to 35 miles per hour.

Brunswick Police Cmdr. Mark Waltz advised people to get home before the storm gets going this afternoon. Staying off the roads also helps plow crews do their job.

Waltz reminded people to heed the parking ban, which will be in effect from 9 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday. Every storm the town has to tow a few vehicles that remain in streets or municipal parking lots.

Residents can go to the town website and sign up to get emails or text messages alerting them to the parking bans, Waltz said.

There are currently 833 subscribers signed up for this service, “but we’re always looking for more,” Waltz said. 

The Brunswick Graham Road Landfill will be closed all day on Thursday, due to the forecast winter storm. Brunswick Public Works Director John Foster stated in the announcement that the workers at the landfill are needed to help on the plow routes. The landfill will be open on Friday and Saturday as usual from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Curbside collection of trash and recycling was to run as usual, by Pine Tree Waste.

Topsham Public Works Director Dennis Cox also advised people to try to get off the roads and adhere to parking bans, which are posted on the town website.

Topsham has a parking ban in place from 10 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday.

Cox said it is very helpful for the plowing crew when people park off the road. For the first time in his career Cox had to have a vehicle towed this year that was parked in the road.

Crews will get to the sidewalks as soon as they can after a storm like this, Cox said, but warmed pedestrians to stay out of the road. People in the roadway can be very dangerous particularly if there is low visibility and snow is blowing in the roads as forecast.

Topsham has just shy of 90 miles of road to maintain. Drivers operating the seven plow trucks were busy with tasks at the garage Thursday morning getting ready to hit the road, knowing it will be a long day. 

While thankfully no ice or rain is expected to come with this storm, Cox said the cold temperatures will be a challenge. Crews use a pre-mix of sand and salt, but the salt may not work on the snow in such cold conditions so they will have to use more sand to keep the snow from packing into road crevices. Drivers will need to be careful in the morning because even with roads cleared, the packed snow may make for slippery conditions in places.

While some residents have assumed because of the lack of snow this winter that towns have been saving on sand and salt, Cox said Topsham has used quite a bit of product this year — approximately 70 to 75 percent, because of the level of icing on the roads. 

The use of fuel and manpower hours to put down the product is also up. While the department shouldn’t be going over budget, Cox said the town hasn’t seen a savings either, given the nature of the winter. 

This is a developing story, check back here for more.

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