Still snowed in from the blizzard, Atlantic City?
Mayor Frank Gilliam and the state have a plan.
Without enough equipment or manpower to completely clear the city’s streets, the state Department of Transportation is lending help — and about 40 vehicles.
“We plan on working 24 hours a day even in these temperatures,” said Andrew Tunnard, assistant commission of operations for the DOT.
Gilliam held a press conference outside the Surf Stadium as the fleet of “snow fighter” vehicles started to form.
An initial assessment of the city at 7 a.m. resulted in a plan that includes first clearing the emergency route to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.
The routes to the schools will come next, and then the city’s main arteries, followed by local streets.
The plan will end with clean up at Boardwalk Hall, the Convention Center and the aquarium, Tunnard said.
The work had already begun with four front-end loaders, six dump trucks and two Skid Steers, which are similar to BobCats.
Over the next six hours, the DOT with bring in more resources that will include eight “attack teams,” Tunnard said.
The fleet will grow to eight front-end loaders, 16 dump trucks, 12 Skid Steers and four to six pickup trucks. They also come with tons of salt, Gilliam said.
When asked about cars that were plowed in, the mayor said the Skid Steers can get into those tight places and help those that stuck get out.
Gilliam said the director of Public Works has been “working diligently” throughout the storm.
Atlantic City police officers and firefighters will be knocking on doors asking residents to move their cars for a few hours.
going door to door to ask residents to move their cars.
Free parking is being offered at the Wave garage until Monday, but the city is working on getting that extended until at least Thursday, Fire Chief Scott Evans said.
FULL PRESS CONFERENCE
https://www.facebook.com/fmgilliam/videos/10211656475791083/
(Photo courtesy of
@jake__68 on Twitter.)
Story will be updated as information comes in.
Gilliam helps a stuck motorist...
https://www.facebook.com/fmgilliam/videos/10211648509911941/
