WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- West Springfield has plows ready for this weekend’s storm, but the duration of the storm could be a concern for both operations and the town budget.

The town will have about 100 pieces of equipment working to clear roads, sidewalks and parking lots. West Springfield DPW Director Trevor Wood said crews are filling trucks and checking equipment, but this storm isn’t just about snow totals. Rather, it’s about duration and what that means for local streets. The 60,000-pound plow trucks will be clearing streets this weekend, but with how long the storm is expected to last, the drivers operating them could run out of stamina fast.

There will be times, especially overnight, when fewer trucks will be out and snow could pile up to several inches on streets. The reason is plow operators need rest, and this storm won’t give them much time to get it. “The duration of the storm is a big part, is a big thing to worry about. The fatigue from the employees, from the contractors, for being out there and plowing that long,” Wood said. “I mean, I just want the public to know to kind of stay away from the trucks, leave as much room as they can. Some of these trucks weigh 60,000 pounds with a tired operator.”

Wood added that the town has enough salt for now, but this storm could be a budget buster. “The budget kind of thing gets thrown out of the window right when you kind of buy all the materials and fix all the trucks for the years,” he added. “So, yeah, it’s definitely, I guess you would say it’s going to be a budget buster just because we’re going to have to order more salt than we initially thought we were going to have to order.”

The additional costs come after a winter that has already been challenging for the town’s snow removal operations. “This year has been brutal with all these little two-inch storms, basically one to two a week,” Wood noted.

Each storm has been eating through salt, equipment and budget. This weekend’s storm could push things over the edge. West Springfield officials said that crews will do everything they can to keep streets clear, but they need public cooperation. Residents are required to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours after the storm ends.

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