Drifts blocking lines of sight and narrowing travel lanes are among the challenges facing drivers in Hunterdon on Monday. Watch video
EAST AMWELL -- The weekend snowstorm dropped nearly 30 inches of snow on Hunterdon County, but there are piles higher than that to cope with as county road crews continue to clear the roads.
Blowing snow drifted 5 to 6 feet deep at the peak of Manners Road Saturday night, said county Road Supervisor Jeff Quick. "I was out there with a grader to open it up," he said Monday.
Manners Road crests where the Candlelight alpaca farm is located, and the drifiting, blowing snow made for a narrow post-storm passage. "We need to open it up there, so when people get to the top of the hill there's no collisions," Quick said.
Enter the grader, manned by Tom Leone. "We don't go out there with it that much anymore, because we have newer trucks," Quick said. The grader, however, with an attached wing plow, is just the thing for pushing back the tops of towering snow piles.
Leone was just cresting the peak of Manners Road in front of the alpaca farm on Monday when he stopped to chat with a resident, then explain his game plan. "I'm trying to widen the road all the way to the white lines," he said. Once he finished with Manners Road, it would be on to Route 514, Old York Road, Route 604. "I'm going to be all over today," he said.
And trouble spots can be found all around Hunterdon. The trickiest spots to watch out for are intersections. "You need to be careful at intersections because the line of sight is reduced," said Quick.
Snow piles are restricting some roads near intersections as well. Turn lanes that were visible on Friday afternoon are buried for now. "We're trying to clear all that up today," Quick said.
As the weather warms and snow begins to melt, another danger to watch out for is pooling water. "We're going to be digging out drains too," Quick said.
Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.