DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
ADMINISTRATION
999 Whipple Road, Tewksbury, MA 01876
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Brian M. Gilbert, P.E. Superintendent of public Works
Tel: (978) 640-4440 ext. 1 Fax: (978) 640-4445
LAWN DAMAGE FROM SNOW PLOWS
Message to
The DPW is getting numerous calls regarding
lawn damage from snow plowing operations over this past winter.
In most cases the damage that is being
reported is limited to within the Town right of way. Private property lot lines
are typically located 10 to 15 feet in from the edge of the pavement.
Although we take great care at
minimizing road shoulder damage it sometimes is unavoidable. The reasons for
this are twofold: First, we must push the snow beyond the edge of the pavement
after each snow storm to allow for the storage of snow for successive storms
over the winter. Second, in addition to our DPW work force and equipment the
Town retains the services of 70 to 80 contracted plows to assist us with snow
plowing operations. Sometimes we get new contractors and/or drivers that may
not be familiar with the local roads and not knowing the geometry of the road can
result in snow being pushed further into the shoulder area than necessary.
We are asking residents to kindly help
the D.P.W by making repairs to lawn damage between their lot lines and the edge
of the pavement. For the removal of broken asphalt berm please contact the D.P.W
office at 978-640-4440. At the present time we are addressing the most severe
cases of lawn damage but we do not currently have the resources to address it
all at once.
We recommend for the upcoming winter
season that residents place a row of snow markers in front of their lawns about
two feet in from the edge of the pavement ( if placed
too close to the edge of the pavement they will be knocked out by the weight of
the snow or by the plow) to provide guidance to plow drivers. Thank you for
your cooperation
Sincerely,
Brian M. Gilbert, P.E.
Superintendent of D.P.W.