LEWISTON - Until a box stuffed with three weeks of mail arrived Thursday on her porch, 83-year-old Georgette Driscoll was waiting on correspondence from friends around the world.

The ice- and snow-covered sidewalk outside her home had halted mail delivery to Driscoll and about 100 other homes along busy East Avenue.

And with Thursday's arrival - a special delivery from the Lewiston Post Office - her mailbox is likely frozen again until the sidewalk thaws.

"It's out of kilter," said Driscoll, who has trouble getting to the post office to pick up undelivered mail.

She hasn't driven since her car was damaged last year in an accident.

"This is the government," she said. "The mail must go through."

Some costs are too high, though.

"It happens every year," said a Lewiston postal worker who declined to be identified. When sidewalks along busy roads such as East Avenue and Lisbon Street become too icy, mail is halted. The only alternative for foot carriers to make their deliveries is to walk in the street.

"I'm not going to have my carriers walking into two lanes of oncoming cars," the worker said.

The postal worker blamed the city for failing to clear its sidewalks.

"It's a problem," the worker said. "It's frustrating. We weren't delivering to Lisbon Street but they finally cleared those walks."

On Wednesday, the issue came up before the Lewiston City Council.

City workers try to keep about 20 miles of sidewalks clear, City Administrator Jim Bennett said. The remaining 52 miles are up to homeowners to plow or shovel.

"If you look at it now, it's solid ice in a lot of places and our snowblowers don't do a thing to that," Bennett said. "We're behind the eight-ball now, and I don't know how we'll be able to get out."

That was no option for Driscoll, who is unable to shovel her walk.

She tried but failed to reach Mayor Larry Gilbert about the problem. And she complained to the post office.

After all, they have been delivering to Webster Street, which intersects East Avenue about 30 feet from her front door.

"I feel like moving out," Driscoll said. "I got better service when I lived in New Gloucester. Then, I moved to the city and this happens."