Storm Ends; Traffic Light as Plainview Roads Steadily Improve

Plainview is recovering Wednesday evening from the latest winter storm as the community's skies as well as it roads began to clear.

As darkness fell Wednesday night, Plainview's main roads were clear to the pavement and most side streets had been plowed at least once. The community was very quiet; traffic abnormally light.

Plainview-Old Bethpage schools were closed Wednesday and many area events and businesses were delayed or cancelled, but a sense of normalcy is returning to the community which saw its second major storm in two weeks.

The continues to warn of hazardous road conditions due to blowing snow. This evening will turn colder, with temperatures in the teens.

Plainview residents said many of their roads have been plowed by state, county and Town of Oyster bay plow crews. The road surfaces were visible around town the effects of spreading salt and sand.

"Things seem to be getting back to normal after the storm," said resident Mike Polansky. "I went into my office via 135, LIE and sunnyside Boulevard at about 10:45 a.m. and all three roads were down to blacktop."

Polansky said most main streets, including Jamaica Avenue, through Plainview's west side, were clear as well.

Mail service was close to normal yesterday, given the snowfall. Letter Carrier Mohammed Ehsan said about 70 percent of the Plainview crew came in to work and hit the streets. The truck from the postal distribution center arrived only 15 minutes late. Ehsan, delivering the mail to Stauber Drive, said the conditions were slippery, which made the job more difficult.

"We're in very good shape," Phyllis Barry, a spokeswoman for the Town of Oyster Bay said Wednesday afternoon.  "All town roads have been plowed at least once, and we're going back to do more plowing."

Barry said there were no noteworthy trouble spots  or problems as the town worked through the night to get roads ready, beginning by laying a sand salt mixture on the street and moving to plows as the accumulations grew more than two inches.

"This was nothing like the Cristmas blizzard. This was a piece of cake," Barry said.

School officials in Plainview decided at 9 p.m. Tuesday to close schools on Wednesday. Earlier, school officials said they would wait until morning to make a decision. The forecast made it clear that a major snow storm was inevitable.

The Long Island Rail Road suffered major disruptions and delays during the morning rush Wednesday, but is reporting that its expects near-normal service on its electrified branches this evening. That would include service through Hicksville station. The railroad had issued a warning to commuters that service disruptions could occur if more than 10 inches of snow accumulated. The entire LIRR system was shut down for a period of time during the Christmas weekend blizzard.

The has cancelled all its parks and recreational activities on Wednesday in advance of the storm. The town employed 300 pieces of equipment to battle the snow.

Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto declared a snow emergency Tuesday afternoon. Residents were urged to stay home and clear vehicles and basketball hoops off the street to allow snow plows easier access.

Plows are attached to the town's trucks, which are already loaded with a salt-and-sand mix, Barry said Tuesday afternoon. The town has spotters to keep track of trouble spots.

And when the snow reaches two inches on the ground, town crews drop their plows and go to work, she said. There are about 350 town employees involved in the emergency operation. The town has budgeted $1.8 million for snow removal this year; season-to-date totals for expenditures were not available.