EAST PROVIDENCE — Twenty four hours after the storm hit, East Providence Public Works/Highway Department personnel continued the process of removing the upwards of a foot of snow from the city’s roads mid-day Friday, Feb. 10.

“It was a long night, and we’re still not done,” DPW director Steve Coutu around noon Friday.

Mr. Coutu noted the timing of the blizzard was “tough,” adding because the brunt of the storm took place in the afternoon hours of Thursday, Feb. 9, it created a more difficult situation for his crew.

“Even though there wasn’t school, there were a lot of cars on the road. A lot of people still went to work,” he explained. “So because the storm hit from the noon to five o’clock hour, and with the rain earlier in the day, once it started to snow it got packed. With the cars driving on it, it got really packed down and then the temperature dropped, so it wasn’t pretty.”

A full compliment of 40 DPW vehicles were engaged in the snow removal during the height of the storm and well into Thursday evening/Friday morning as the snowfall came to an end.

During the day Friday, Mr. Coutu said his personnel continued to widen roadways, trim corners and go over back roads that may have not have been cleared thoroughly enough the previous evening. He said although temperatures remained at or below freezing, the day’s sunshine “helped out a lot.” The warmth of the sun lightened or “fluffed up” the snow, he added, making it much easier to maneuver.

The director said the response to his department’s effort was overwhelmingly positive, though he did say some residents did have complaints about lack of clearance on roads and piles of snow at the end of some driveways. In spite of the amount of snow, Mr. Coutu said he was pleased the city did not have to cancel trash and recycling pick-ups scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Budget-wise, Mr. Coutu said it was still too early to calculate the affect the blizzard had on his department’s coffers. He said it was only the second significant event of the season, which should make the money spent more amenable to his bottom line. Overall, he added, he was pleased with the performance of the EPDPW/Highway.

“I thought it was another good, dedicated response by our crews,” Mr. Coutu said. “They stuck with it, got the job done.”