'Heavy artillery' at work in Riverhead

Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski said town crews are still putting the “final touches” on the snow clearing effort.

“We have a couple roads we’re trying to make wider, safer,” he said in an interview Tuesday.

Wind is still causing snow drifts to pile up in some open farm areas, he said. “We’ve got to bring in the heavy artillery.”

Regular plows don’t stand a chance against tall piles of snow, Zaleski said. Payloaders, snow blowers and other equipment are being used to push back snow, but Zaleski said the town only has a limited number, so it takes time.

The department also plans to reapply salt and sand before the end of Tuesday since there’s light snow in the forecast Wednesday. “We’re just tightening everything up so I can get my men home at the end of the day for well deserved rest,” Zaleski said.