SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- Western Mass News stopped by the Liberty Heights neighborhood in Springfield, where many residents are taking road cleanup into their own hands.

The intersection of Francis Street and Connecticut Avenue was just one of the areas where residents got to work while waiting for the snowplows to clear their roads. Snowblowers fired up on Monday not just for driveways and sidewalks, but also for side roads.

Residents like Connecticut Avenue’s Manuel Serrano did what he could to help. “Since we cleaned the driveway, we had time to go by the driveway. You get a whole crowd of snow again. We’re just trying to keep up with the snow,” he tells us.

Late Monday morning, we saw the progress underway in the Liberty Heights neighborhood. While main roads like Liberty Street looked to be mostly plowed, some roads, like Francis Street, were only half accessible.

It was not until just after 11:00 a.m. when plows made their way down streets in the area.

Richard Nehmer’s girlfriend lives on Francis, telling Western Mass News about his difficult experience on the roads. He explains, “I was stuck on one of the side streets just before they plowed. The snow got caught up under my undercarriage. Not very much you can do.”

Nehmer also took time to snow blow the intersecting roads. Even as plow drivers were doing their jobs and residents tried to shovel and snow blow as much as they could, the snow kept pounding the city of homes.

Another one-to-three inches fell throughout the day, following more than a foot on Sunday.

While some residents think crews could have done a better job, Nehmer says it’s not entirely their fault. “They’re doing the best they can. I got to give them credit. I’ve plowed in my lifetime, so I know it’s a difficult job.”

As we finish the final leg of the storm, Serrano is hopeful conditions will get better, saying “I suggest people just wait until the roads are all cleared because I’m seeing a lot of cars stuck on the side streets.” Serrano also agrees that Springfield DPW is doing all it can to accomplish this task.

We did try to get in touch with DPW director Chris Cignoli on how the plowing operation is going. So far, we have not heard back.

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