LEWISTON – This winter is growing wearisome, and Monday’s snowfall didn’t help.

John Elie, operations manager for Lewiston’s public works highway division, said he had 25 plow trucks and six sanders out Monday, all working to clear the roads as fast as possible. With nine plowable storms in December, Elie said it’s beginning to take a toll on workers as well as the department’s budget.

“They’re getting between four and six hours of sleep a night, then they’re right back to work,” Elie said. “It’s been a rough year on our staff.”

Lewiston public works has used half its supply of road salt and sand so far this winter, and crews are regularly posting 16-hour days.

Elie said his crew was scheduled to be plowing all Monday night and into the early morning today, adding that they would be lucky to be done anytime between 3 and 4 a.m. They were hoping to clear the roads before the morning commute, Elie said.

The good news is the snow is light and fluffy, easier to plow, and uses less sand and salt to treat, according to forecasters.

“The shoveling was easy,” said Art Lester, a meteorological technician for the National Weather Service in Gray, on Monday.

Lester said by the storm’s end some places would have a foot and a half of new snow, while most would have between seven and 12 inches.

Those snowfall totals didn’t stop shoppers from picking up the paper or grabbing a cup of coffee or other necessities at Victor News on Lisbon Street in Lewiston on Monday afternoon. Several people walked through the snow and into the store with no complaints, while others grumbled, eager to return home.

“We can’t control the weather,” one man said. “I’ve been dealing with it for years” he joked as he hurried to his vehicle.

Others complained of having to be out in the snow, and in school. Andover College was the only school in Lewiston and Auburn open Monday morning.

While some disappointed students had to attend morning classes, others were relieved to hear the college closed its doors for the day at 1 p.m.

Accidents

Auburn police responded to 11 storm-related accidents Monday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., according to police Lt. Tim Cougal. Of those, nine had automobile damage estimates of more than $1,000 and two involved minor injuries. Most happened in the afternoon.

“A lot of places were closing early in the day, and that’s when many were heading home,” he said. “We also responded to a handful of calls of vehicles off the road, which is also pretty normal.”

In Lewiston, police think the amount of snow left behind helped keep drivers off of the roads. Lewiston had three accidents, two with damages of more than $1,000.

“So all in all, it was pretty light,” said police Lt. James Minkowsky. “The calls for service were not at all what we were expecting.”

Minkowsky said he kept one patrol officer on duty from the day shift for extra hours Monday to help the seven regularly scheduled officers.

“We were anticipating more calls, but they never came in, and I sent that guy home pretty early,” Minkowsky said.

Elsewhere, on Route 302 in Bridgton, an accident involving a delivery truck sent seven people to the hospital. The 2002 Ford Expedition carrying one adult and six juvenile passengers collided with a Coca-Cola delivery truck after the driver lost control of the SUV and skidded into the left lane.

The truck, carrying one passenger, attempted to avoid the SUV, but failed, said Officer Mack McCormick of the Bridgton police. The delivery truck ended up in a ditch blocking the road and causing it to be shut down.

The Expedition, after being hit, traveled 50 feet across the road into a ski shop’s driveway. All seven passengers were trapped in the vehicle and none of the doors would open, McCormick said. Rescue crews were able to get everyone out and taken to Central Maine Medical Center. Their conditions were not released as of Monday night. The Coca-Cola truck driver and his passenger were not injured, McCormick said.

The delivery truck was inspected by Maine State Police, as is the policy when an accident involving a commercial truck occurs, McCormick said.

No charges were filed.