PAWTUCKET STORM UPDATE:

--Schools to be closed Monday, Feb. 11

--Citywide parking ban will be lifted as of 8 a.m., Monday, Feb. 11

--Trash & recycling pickup postponed one day (resume Tuesday, 2/12 through Sat., 2/16)

--Most side streets should be passable by 6 p.m. Sunday

 

PAWTUCKET – Pursuant to a conference call today between Mayor Donald R. Grebien and city emergency and public safety officials with School Supt. Deborah Cylke, the superintendent said she will issue a school closing notice for Monday, Feb. 11 and review Monday whether any further closing may be needed.

 

Mayor Grebien announced that the citywide parking ban will be lifted as of 8 a.m. Monday but asked that residents use good judgment and common sense when it comes to parking cars on streets that have been narrowed by the massive pileup of snow from the blizzard.

 

“Our crews have been going around the clock since before the start of this huge storm and done an outstanding job in extremely trying conditions,” Grebien said. “We realize the cleanup has not been as fast as everyone would like but we will continue making headway until the job is done. This is a storm of historic proportions, and we ask for the public’s continued patience as we continue the cleanup.”

 

Grebien said the city has methodically followed its plan to focus first on main roads, the Hospital area and major hills, and areas with power outages. As of early Sunday afternoon, only 84 National Grid customers in Pawtucket remained without power, according to the utility.

 

Grebien noted several breakdowns of city equipment and contractor vehicles had slowed the cleanup effort but the release by Governor Chafee of equipment that was dedicated to the state’s road-clearing efforts has provided a needed boost to the city cleanup fleet.

 

Public Works Director Lance Hill said trash and recycling pickup will be postponed one day, with normal Monday pickup on Tuesday and a similar one-day delay throughout the week, with normal Friday pickup on Saturday. Hill said two-thirds of city streets are now in passable condition and virtually every street should become passable by approximately 6 p.m. Sunday.

 

Hill said crews will again be working overnight and throughout Monday and beyond, as necessary. He noted the city had brought on several commercial front-end loaders from private companies to help move the huge piles of snow. Loaders will also be dispatched to work on school and city parking lots on Monday.

 

Fire Chief William Sisson asked that the public assist his department by clearing snow, where possible, around their nearby fire hydrants in case of emergency.

 

Any Pawtucket resident needing assistance should call the Police Department at 401-727-9100 or the Department of Public Works at401-728-0500, ext. 284. For emergencies, call 911.