Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Highway department crews continue to deal with snow removal efforts after this week's lake effect blasts. Crews say they're working 16-hour days but are hanging in there.
"They're holding up," says Hamburg Highway Superintendent Ed Hughes, whose crews have been working 16-hour shifts. "We've been going around the clock, and we've been using outside contractors to come in and let their high lifts and haul snow for the banks." Hughes says drivers have been going home and coming back. "We're scheduling overtime. But before they leave we're scheduling another crew to come in for the night shift. So everybody knows ahead of time so they can go home and get their rest in and see their families and then so they can come back," explains Hughes.
Lackawanna crews have also been working 16-hour shifts, says Mayor Annette Iafallo. "It could be treacherous at times, and they could get tired, but I'll tell you, they're very resilient. They do come back and they just keep plugging along," says Iafallo.
Iafallo says most crews leave and they do go home. "Some of who don't want to go can rest in the garage. It's totally up to them. Some have even fallen asleep in the vehicle," notes Iafallo. She sasy they're managing and doing a wonderful job.
While those two communities have dealt with feet of snow, Amherst has dealt with about a foot, says Supervisor Brian Kulpa. "I haven't had nearly the situation that a lot of the communities in western New York have. So I can't say that we're in the same boat," says Kulpa.
His crews have been working regular eight hour shifts. "Our guys have had decent breaks. We've been lucky in terms of how the snows hit us. However, people get a little weary, especially by the end of shifts," notes Kulpa.
The Lake Effect Snow Warning expired Thursday evening.
