FARMINGTON — With another snowstorm on the way, the Farmington Public Work’s Department crew was preparing equipment Monday to keep the town’s 120-miles of road free of snow and ice.

The nine-member winter crew covers seven plow routes, each taking nearly three-hours to complete and work in 16-hour shifts during heavy snowfall. They begin the stormy job by plowing the most heavily traveled roads, the Wilton Road, routes 2 and 27, and those around schools, said Denis Castonguay, public works director.

When specific roads are plowed is determined by the traffic volume and time of day, he said.

It takes approximately 700 to 1,000 tons of salt, 5,000 to 6,000 yards of sand and about two-thirds of a $65,000 fuel budget to take care of the winter roads, he said.

While citizens voice concerns every winter about damaged mailboxes, plows dumping snow in driveways and plow drivers going too fast, Castonguay has a few concerns of his own.

“Don’t pass a plow truck. There’s 21-feet of plow on the ground in a 20-foot travel lane, meaning plows are off the lane 2 feet,” he said. “We’re in people’s way a lot but they need to be aware.”

The Wilton Road has been one of the biggest issues with the plow discharging snow from the outside lane into the inside lane of the four-lane highway. People will pass anyway, he said.

The view from the driver’s seat of a Farmington plow gives one a whole different perspective on snow plowing. Sitting approximately ten feet off the ground the front plows are barely visible while the side wing can’t be seen at all. It takes experience and practice to prepare the driver for the task, he said.

As for the mailboxes, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to keep it clear and they are usually in the town’s right of way, he said. It’s often the weight of the snow not the actual plow that causes the damage but citizens can call 778-2191 when damage occurs, Castonguay said. He reminds the drivers to be more careful.

As for the snow in the driveway, there’s just no practical way to plow without depositing snow there. State law prohibits placing snow or ice in a public street or sidewalk, so the department recommends pushing snow on to the opposite side of the driveway from which the plow is coming.

Although plows look like they are going too fast, two of the plows are equipped with computers that not only control the amount of sand/salt being dispensed but also let Castonguay know how fast the driver went. He’s not found any driver going over the speed limit, he said.

Another thing that would help the town crew is awareness of storm catch basins, he said. With 600 basins around town, accumulating snow and then rain can cause a plugged basin. If people see a problem, the department asks that they shovel the basin.

A winter parking ban limits Main Street parking from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. while other in-town roads are limited from midnight to 6 a.m.

Snow is removed from downtown areas within 48 hours of the storm. This usually takes place between midnight and 7 a.m. nights after the storm.

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Farmington Public Work’s employees modify a sander Monday in preparation for the coming snow plowing season. Public Work’s Director Denis Castonguay discusses how an added piece will concentrate sand application to roads with Wes Witherly and Paul Gingras. Witherly was recently hired to replace Tim Schanz, who retired, and Gingras is a spare driver for the town crew but has 27-years of experience with the Maine Department of Transportation.

Farmington Public Work’s employees modify a sander Monday in
preparation for the coming snow plowing season. Public Work’s Director
Denis Castonguay discusses how an added piece will concentrate sand
application to roads with Wes Witherly and Paul Gingras. Witherly was
recently hired to replace Tim Schanz, who retired, and Gingras is a
spare driver for the town crew but has 27-years of experience with the
Maine Department of Transportation.