Snow removal fleets in Wheeling battled yet another blast of winter weather on Friday, when Mother Nature covered the Ohio Valley with another 1-3 inches of snow in most areas. While crews work diligently to clear all city streets of snow, some alleys and narrow secondary streets make treatment challenging. Some residential neighborhoods have on-street parking with vehicles lined on both sides of a narrow roadway, such as this section of Pine Avenue in Woodsdale, making it difficult for snow plows to navigate through. (Photo by Eric Aryes)

WHEELING – City crews in Wheeling were lauded for their efforts during brutal blasts of winter weather in recent weeks, working long hours to clear roadways and keeping services operated despite challenges.

The latest jolt of wintry conditions blanketed the Ohio Valley with yet another 1-3 inches of snow Friday morning. The duration of the snowfall was relatively short, but the accumulation was enough to cause schools and various events to cancel.

While some secondary streets and alleys in areas of Wheeling remained covered in snow, city leaders noted that snow removal efforts were out in full force working to clear thoroughfares in every neighborhood in town.

“We have GPS in all our trucks,” Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said on Friday. “We do follow up as needed or if an issue is pointed out. Our crews did a very good job with a large amount of snow that fell fast.”

State routes in Wheeling and some other major traffic arteries – including roadways leading up the hill to Wheeling Park High School – are cleared by crews from the West Virginia Division of Highways, Herron noted. The city operations department’s fleets prioritize snow removal and treatment to the main traffic arteries in town before hitting other primary streets in the various neighborhoods. They then concentrate on secondary streets and eventually alleys, if it is possible for a snow plow to navigate tight quarters.

Some alleys and narrow secondary streets, particularly in residential neighborhoods where there is on-street parking that lines both sides of the roadway, are difficult or even impossible for trucks with large plow blades to navigate, officials indicated.

“Alleys are done after streets,” Herron explained. “Alleys that are a lower priority or are not done at all typically are flat and/or have very little room for the plowed snow. Many alleys are in tight quarters and have backyard chain link fences, garages right on the alley, etc.”

The snow removal strategy also is influenced by the amount of precipitation and the duration of the storm, the city manager indicated. The major winter storm late last month dumped 10 inches or more of snow in areas throughout the valley and came in a steady and relentless snowfall that lasted all day.

“A typical snowfall of a couple of inches is obviously easier to deal with for snow placement than a 12-14 inch snow fall,” Herron said. “You’ve got to have a place for the plowed snow to go. Either way, as I said. I thought that our crews did a very good job with the large amount of snow that they had to deal with.”

Herron noted that city officials and staff members constantly review their responses to weather events and review ways to strengthen any weaknesses that may present themselves.

Crews have dealt with a very wintry season so far not only in terms of snowfall but also during stretches of unusually cold, oftentimes below-freezing or even sub-zero conditions. City workers from a number of departments, not only the snow removal fleet, have been out in it performing yeoman’s work, officials noted.

“I want to commend our city workers,” Wheeling City Councilman Tony Assaro said. “The weather has been horrible, and they’ve done a wonderful job. Last week when it was 9 below zero, I was amazed to see the garbage truck go up, and those guys were still on the back of the truck working in that horrible weather. All of the departments have done a fantastic job.”

Wheeling Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis saluted the efforts of crews he encountered working on a water line break on 16th Street during the stretch of sub-zero temperatures. They worked until the line was fixed, he said.

“I’ve witnessed them first-hand during this cold spell perform admirably,” Sklavounakis said. “There were some guys at the water department working 12 hours in that frigid cold and then going the next day to do the same. I don’t know how they did that, but they did it. Those guys do deserve some pats on the back.

“They take their job seriously. I think they’ve done just a great job.”