Westford Preps For Snow, Delays Trash Pickup

WESTFORD, MA — Snow is expected to start falling in Westford around 8 p.m. Wednesday, and the town is expected to get between 6 and 15 inches of snow overnight into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The town has already announced that trash and recycling will be canceled Thursday and delayed a day, but have not yet announced a snow emergency, or whether schools will move to an all-online model for Thursday.

The Town Manager declares a snow emergency when it becomes apparent there is one.

And town officials are asking residents bring in your trash and recycling barrels before tonight and that people remember there is no parking on the street from Nov.15 through April 15 by town bylaw.

The highway department will thank you for that, too, as barrels and cars parked out on the street make their job of clearing roadways more difficult.

"Please, no on street parking overnight while we're out there trying to work," Westford Highway Superintendent Chip Barrett said.

The highway department has for the past two days pre-treated the nearly 175 miles of roads around the town in anticipation for the storm, Barrett said.

"We are ready, and our snow plows and the sanders are all loaded," Barrett said.

His team has already tested the plows this winter with the previous two snowfalls, so they know they're working, he said.

"We're ready for whatever the storm is going to throw at us," he said.

The Highway Department has about 8,000 tons of salt at the ready and use about 110 tons of that to treat the roadways on each complete trip around town, he said.

Between the pre-treatment ahead of this storm, and the temperatures, Barrett estimates the town will only use a minimal amount of salt this time.

Barrett urges Westford residents to be careful out in the snow tonight and tomorrow.

"We know a lot of kids are working remote tomorrow, just remember to watch out for the big trucks, they can't always see kids who have built forts in the snowbank," he said. "Be safe and have a nice holiday."

Officials ask residents if they are able, to be sure to clear the sidewalk in front of your homes and businesses quickly after the storm to make it easier for postal workers and other pedestrians.

Check the town’s website for updated information.

Got a cancellation? Got a storm photo? Send it to us at Westford@Patch.com.