LYNN — The National Weather Service is forecasting another round of snowfall across the region due to a bomb cyclone with an expected 3-6 inches. As crews continue to recover from last weekend’s snowstorm, the City of Lynn is preparing for more.
“We are closely monitoring the forecast for this Sunday and preparing for another potential storm.” Mayor Jared Nicholson stated. “It is too early to be able to estimate the impact and the implications for our operations, but we will continue to monitor and prepare.”
Linda Ibrahim, owner of Ivory Pot Bakery on Exchange Street, said longer commute times are adding stress as she travels to and from her business.
“And today it took me almost 20 minutes to find parking,” she stated. While she normally has no trouble finding parking on Mt. Vernon Street, snow accumulation has made parking more limited.
The parking challenges have also directly impacted her business operations. Ibrahim said she was forced to temporarily shut down her bakery earlier this week. “We had a few customers complaining, like, there is no parking. We had to close on Monday and Tuesday.”
Other residents echoed similar concerns about road and parking conditions. Another Lynn resident, Christian Cardenas, said, “Right now, we have to drive slowly because it’s really slippery. The parking is really bad.”
Nicholson stated that crews have been working around the clock to improve road conditions, particularly in harder-to-navigate areas.
“While the vast majority of city roads are navigable, our operations to improve access have continued in more challenging areas, such as narrow, hillside dead-ends. This week, we have had crews working overnight, clearing and removing snow from streets and intersections, especially near schools and main thoroughfares,” he said.
During last weekend’s storm response, the city deployed significant resources. “During last weekend’s storm, we used 176 contracted pieces of equipment,” Nicholson reported.
“To maintain safety and accessibility, our crews were deployed for 35 hours of continuous plowing. The estimated cost of this work is approximately $35K/hour,” he added.
DPW Commissioner Andrew Hall praised city crews and residents for their efforts and patience throughout the storm cleanup.
“In the face of this significant snowfall, our DPW crews and City teams have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our streets. I am grateful for their non-stop dedication before, during, and after the storm, and equally thankful to our residents for their continued patience and cooperation as we work together to clear the snow,” Hall said.
