Highway crews prepare for weekend storm

WORCESTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- The blizzard two weeks ago left nearly two and a half feet of snow in the hills of Worcester, a place all too used to dealing with big-time accumulations.

“I’ve had enough. I’m ready for spring,” said Elaine Cardinal, a Fitchburg resident.

Now, there is more on the way.

The Worcester area is expected to get more snow than other areas closer to the coast this weekend. The higher elevations should keep temperatures below freezing and limit the snow-rain mix.

The snow will be heavy and wet, which could bring power lines down.

Worcester’s public works department is preparing to plow the roads and treat them with de-icing chemicals.

“At the height of the storm we’ll probably have 400 pieces of equipment on the roads. We’ve had guys who have been working for the last three weeks straight with no time off,” said Worcester Public Works Commissioner Bob Moylan.

The state’s highway division is gearing up too -- its efforts will be concentrated on highways where conditions are the worst.

“Our staff is well rested and ready to staff this storm and work it,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Frank Depaola.

The public works chief said the storm will take them from a budget in the black to a budget in the red.