Crews prepare to treat streets as winter weather heads to Worcester

As winter weather makes its way throughout New England, crews in Worcester are preparing to treat the streets before a messy morning commute.

With plenty of hills and steep roads for drivers to deal with, trucks will be heading to Worcester to load up and sand the 500 miles of road in the city.

Paul Moosey, the commissioner of the Worcester Department of Public Works, said the city is ready, with trucks lined up, all prepared for snow, sleet and rain.

Starting around 2:30 a.m. or 3 a.m. Friday morning, 20 to 50 sanders will treat the roads, with light snow expected in the area before rain early in the morning that will freeze over to create an icy, potentially dangerous commute.

Drivers are urged to leave for work early, and to allow plenty of space between cars in case of any sliding.

Eventually, the temperatures will warm up as rain continues, and ice will melt.

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However, for the early morning hours, drivers will need to be careful.

"Obviously the ice is certainly more dangerous for drivers," Moosey said. "It’s even more dangerous for our sand trucks. So, that’s a concern. It’s also the time of day, it’s right at the morning commute."

Because it's a holiday week and school vacation week, there will be fewer cars and buses on the road, although the task will still be a large one as crews make 500 miles of road safe across the more urban areas and neighborhoods.

Cox Media Group