ABANDONED VEHICLES A ‘SEVERE’ PROBLEM
Among the three vehicles left abandoned on the Red Bank end of the Cooper Bridge were these two, still there at 9:30a Monday. Below, a motorist left a car at West Front Street and Riverside Avenue. (Click to enlarge)
Officials in Red Bank and nearby towns are asking motorists to stay off the streets while plow crews dig out from the blizzard that socked the region with at least two feet of snow Sunday and early Monday.
Abandoned vehicles and pedestrians walking in streets slowed the start of snow removal efforts, Red Bank officials say. Now, cars mired in deep drifts continue to hamper plowing.
“It’s a severe problem,” said Gary Watson, who heads up the borough’s public utilities department.
Numerous cars left stuck at intersections could still be found at daylight Monday, including three caught in deep snow on Bridge Avenue at the foot of the Cooper Bridge.
“We’re working on getting towtrucks out,” police Captain Darren McConnell told redbankgreen. “They’ve become a hinderance to the plows.”
A municipal plow got stuck on Mechanic Street at Spring Street at about 10:15a Monday. (Click to enlarge)
Citing the state of emergency declared by acting Governor Stephen Sweeney, Fair Haven police Chief Darryl Breckenridge is reminding motorists that non-essential vehicles are not permitted on roadways.
In Red Bank, too many drivers “didn’t heed the media warnings” and wound up getting stuck in deep snow, said Watson. redbankgreen saw abandoned vehicles in every neighborhood over the course of a walk around the perimeter of town Monday morning.
Pedestrians walking in the street were a serious impediment to the start of the plowing overnight, Watson said.
“Our guys couldn’t see them because of the white-out conditions,” he said. “So they had to go slower or come to a stop. That’s when you lose momentum and get stuck.”
Watson says plows are having difficulty navigating not only an obstacle course of cars left on the street, but the snow itself.
“They’ve been getting stuck all night,” Watson said. To those who might wonder why vehicles built for storms might get stuck, Watson says, “There’s a snowstorm, and then there’s a blizzard. It’s not just our trucks. County and state plows are getting stuck, too.”
Watson says the plowing priority is to get the main arteries such as Leighton Avenue, Bridge Street, West Front, Bergen Place/Drs. Parker Boulevard, Broad and Spring Streets passable, an effort he expects to take until Monday evening.
The smaller residential streets won’t be tackled until Monday night at the earliest in what Watson believes will be a several-day effort.
As of noon, though, Watson said he hadn’t received a single complaint about lack of plowing.
“Obviously, people understand what’s going on,” he said. “They see us out there. It’s not rocket science.”
Dec 27, 2010 @ 14:37:34
‘As of noon, though, Watson said he hadnt received a single complaint about lack of plowing’ – probably because no is picking up the phone Gary
Dec 27, 2010 @ 14:53:02
i hope the plows dont cover up the side walk i just shoveled…again this year
Dec 27, 2010 @ 15:23:28
that’s funny as of Noon the “Town Hall” parking lot wasn’t even plowed –
Dec 27, 2010 @ 15:52:20
Aren’t abandoned cars left in the middle of an extremely busy intersection towed ? Snow or no snow ? I dont know common sense would have had me get help and push it off to the side of the road or into that vacant lot thats been there for 8 years or so ! I cant believe it hasn’t gotten plowed into a ” real cube” The other one looks like it ran off the road different story . I just had to push some dope around the corner in his 2 wheel drive car I told him you realize you wont make the end of the street with that its a sled. Meanwhile im still stuck in my own driveway and with hope of getting out after shoveling for 4 hours ! But Kudos to plowers I was out last night twice and they were doing a great job all night and all day They just went buy again..are we getting more snow tonight? Or is just going to turn to ice?
Dec 27, 2010 @ 16:10:10
Dan, Agreed! I know that we complained. I live on a semi-busy street (Morford Pl). Across from my home is a JCP&L substation. Labeled on the back is Riverview Medical Center. I believe that this is one of the main power sources for the hospital. Can you imagine if that went out? I am sure the hospital has backup power, but can you imagine how you’d get a JCP&L truck down here? You wouldn’t.
I have NO WHERE to go & I do not expect to go out in this, but I have not seen a single plow in almost 24 hours. My street is plowed partially to the funeral home & then a dead stop. I don’t expect miracles, but how about 1 plow? & don’t give me this no one has complained…..because we personally did.
Again, I know it is a safety issue & abandoned cars are a problem, but there’s been nothing down here in 24 hours.
Dec 27, 2010 @ 16:32:55
I’ve lived here for 20 years and this is the worst plowing job I’ve seen in that time. “Not one complaint”? Are you kidding me
Dec 27, 2010 @ 16:35:09
4:30 and still no plows have gone down Oakland Street?
Dec 27, 2010 @ 17:24:20
No complaints? No one answered the phone when I tried to complain. Irving and Athur have not been plowed at all!
Dec 27, 2010 @ 17:30:42
Around 4PM 4 snow plows + an ambulance were stuck in front of WaWa. Possibly two of the other plows were stuck behind the first…still have not seen a plow on Oakland St yet.
Dec 27, 2010 @ 18:56:21
No plows yet on Hillside place (only 3 houses on the
street so we traditionally are towards the tail end).
thank goodness for RB Green and the commenters for
keeping us in the loop and giving us some outside perspective.
I’m very curious to know what it costs the town to do the
text/phone/email alerts. Sure they are working hard but
some communication/status reports would be most
appreciated.
Dec 27, 2010 @ 19:10:04
I’ve lived on Irving since 1990 and never saw it go so long without being plowed at all.
Usually plows are coming through while the snow is falling.
I’m no plowing expert so the delay could be due entirely to the blizzard conditions.
But furlough days and residents who have no appreciation for what our public works people do for us couldn’t possibly help morale.
I’d be interested in knowing if any workers were too sick to come out.
If someone calls in sick for an emergency like this all the town can do is take them at their word that they were too sick to respond.
I think our public works people have always done an excellent job.
And I certainly won’t think any less of them if Irving is designated as the next street to plow.
Dec 27, 2010 @ 19:54:12
7:30 and they are plowing Oakland Street – not like it matters my car won’t be out until thursday
Dec 27, 2010 @ 20:17:45
Not a complaint here just an observation – 8 pm and we still haven’t seen a plow yet on Bank Street. It’s waist deep in the middle of the street. We are always just about last to get plowed, understandably. But this is definitely the longest it’s ever taken since we’ve lived here. It’s also the most snow. Pretty remarkable.
John – what kind of evidence do you have that this is a calculated demonstration against the governor?
Dec 27, 2010 @ 21:14:35
That red car (in front of Manhattan Bagel) was stuck there last night around 8:30 when I (unfortunately) drove through that intersection. At the time, there was a police car and I thought a tow truck with it, but there was already a foot of snow all around it. There was no pushing the car into an empty lot. (That type of car shouldn’t have been out in the first place, I only made it through using 4WD and taking it very slooooow.)
Dec 27, 2010 @ 22:29:06
highland avenue being plowed out around 10:20pm. thank you!!
Dec 28, 2010 @ 08:32:01
John,
I was just asking you to elaborate on your very intriguing post. No need to diss me personally.
update: 820 a.m Tuesday. Still haven’t seen a single plow.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 08:46:54
and I should add, John, that one reason I was asking is that I once wrote a long newspaper piece after the 1997 blizzard about the politics of snow plowing (the famous NYC Mayor John Lindsay snow plow controversy, etc.). And the comments yesterday by Ray Lesniak about Christie being in Florida had my antennae tuned for anything along those lines with this storm.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 09:49:24
I HAVE LIVED IN RED BANK OFF AND ON FOR 53 YEARS.(FOR PLOW SERVICE) THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST I HAVE SEEN!USUALLY THE PLOWS ARE OUT ALL NITE. I HAVE NOT SEEN I PLOW IN 48 HRS.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS AT TOWN HALL BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT ANSWER THE PHONE. THERE IS ONLY ONE OPEN LANE ON MY STREET AT THE MOMENT. WHEN CAN I GET OUT? WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM THIS YEAR? WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY GARBAGE AND RECYCLING THAT HAS NOT BEEN COLLECTED IN THE LAST WEEK?
Dec 28, 2010 @ 10:09:55
I took a walk over to Wawa this morning. Bridge Avenue (!!!!) has yet to be sufficiently plowed. THIS ROAD IS A MAJOR ARTERY TO THE HOSPITAL! There is an abandoned SUV in the middle of the road. I find it INCREDIBLY hard to believe that Bridge Avenue from Route 35 to W. Front Street is not a priority. This is beyond unacceptable at this point. Again, I don’t mind that I can’t get out, as the roads should not be driven again today, but what are you going to do if you need an ambulance to get you to the hospital? Disgusting!
Dec 28, 2010 @ 11:58:18
It’s 11:45 – still no plows down by Bank, Tilton, Drs James Parker …
Not even a cursory sweep.
Doesn’t seem quite right…
Dec 28, 2010 @ 12:47:51
Middletown Township is not paying overtime for the plows. That is why many side streets are not plowed at all or sloppily done. Do not expect any help. You and your neighbors will have to dig themselves out.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 12:54:05
Tim –
That’s very interesting info. Do you mind telling me where you heard it?
Sue (who went ahead and commented on RBG using her real, live name after vowing not to.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 12:56:46
I live on Hudson an my driveway backs to Clay- not a single plow despite calling the police non emergency number at 530am.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 13:01:12
Just found this on the Middletown web site:
https://www.middletownnj.org/html/ImportantNoticeDetails.asp?NoticeIDReq=374d9de0-6385-490a-8ab6-ffcc9d9df1d6
Dec 28, 2010 @ 13:45:00
I’m also intrigued about the comment regarding Middletown not paying overtime. Is there a basis for that claim?
Dec 28, 2010 @ 13:56:55
My brother’s gf whose brother works for the Middletown Township. I heard about the info from them.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 13:59:09
Yale Drive did get plowed, but University Drive was not.
And, I am sure the Township is plowing during normal hours only.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 14:11:00
Our street in Lincroft has not been plowed 32 hours after the last snowflake.
The township committee will be proud of our neighborhood’s enthusiasm for what appears to be creeping privatization. A neighbor hired a backloader to get one lane out to the county road at the end of the street – a road which, by the way, was plowed every half hour and is completely free of snow.
Great planning, great execution. Thanks alot…..
Dec 28, 2010 @ 14:25:04
A few of our neighbors banded together with their snow blowers to plow a path in the street.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 16:03:15
I was just informed by a neighbor that the township will be coming tonight to plow the side streets.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 17:08:07
5pm Tuesday – Hillside Place has yet to see a plow.
Walked to and from work today – saw a # of other
streets now plowed at all as well.
From fire houses, to retail stores, to homeowners, I encountered a lot of “very angry” folks.
Luckily there is not a council meeting this coming
Monday. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail by the
1/10/11 meeting (or maybe all forgotten). But clearly
there needs to be a better “communication plan” on
the part of the boro.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 17:21:43
In defense of the Boro – towns up and down the coast are in rough shape. We drove through RB, Lincroft, Eatontown, Wall, Manasquan, and Sea Girt this afternoon to dig out a family member, and none of these towns are in good shape. GSP is tough as well. Sudden storm, blizzard conditions, bad time of year, and I’m sure a little posturing (right or wrong depending on your political views) have combined to make one lovely SNAFU.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 17:41:30
There’s a good chance each township or boro are shorthanded as the crews are stuck at home.
Dec 28, 2010 @ 18:12:37
I saw many tow trucks going all day. They all said the the same thing – Big Boss says only plow big streets. No plans to plow any smaller streets. Big Boss say no smaller streets get plowed.One company to get $500.00 dollar for overtime – thats why no plow smaller streets….Mayor Menna he takes care of us guys. Happy New Year
Dec 29, 2010 @ 08:46:42
A front end loader arrived on our dead end of Bank Street at 930 last night to clear us out. We cheered the dude like a conquering hero. Thanks, guys!
And I agree with David – people in our neighborhood were fuming late yesterday.
Dec 29, 2010 @ 10:15:20
Hillside Place got our 1st plow at 9am – we are very happy.