City of Erie Using Extra Resources to Clear Snow, Hopes to Address Unplowed Areas Overnight
City of Erie streets department crews are still working around the clock to plow neighborhoods and are making progress, but conditions are treacherous and causing plows to get stuck, city officials said.
Two additional, heavy-duty tow trucks from Buffalo have been called to help pull them out. Two heavy-duty EMTA tow trucks are back online and now assisting, as well as one from the Pennsylvania State Police.
An average of 28 trucks are plowing the city at any given time, according to officials.
There are some pockets of streets on the east and west side that have not been cleared of snow, but the city said its goal is to address them Sunday night.
Resources and equipment from outlying areas have also been requested to help clear streets. The City of Erie is receiving help from two mid-size plows from Crawford County; an 8 ½ front loader and a skid steer from Washington Township; and an F550 and one-ton plows, and four front loaders obtained by the County Executive. An additional 2 to 4 front loaders are expected to arrive Monday morning.
Additional city employees from the refuse, wastewater and fire departments are helping to fix and replace plow tire chains.
An estimated 100 cars throughout the city are blocking roads and need to be towed out of the way, so plows can get through, according to city officials. Police are currently towing vehicles that are blocking roadways.
Residents are asked to be patient and stay off the roads, so crews and emergency personnel can focus on public safety during this state of emergency.
They are working to clear more than 329 miles of linear road which equates to treating and plowing more than 600 miles of road in difficult conditions, city officials said.
City of Erie trash pickup will be delayed one day due to the state of emergency, according to an announcement Sunday morning.
There will be no trash pickup Sunday night, and residents are asked to place their trash curbside one day later than your normal pickup night.