Why Bridgeport? Paying Respect to "Snow Warriors"
By Jon Griffith on January 20, 2024 from Why Bridgeport?
Is there anything more glorious than a Snow Day?
It may depend on your perspective, perhaps. As a student and a teacher for a combined 50-plus years, I was firmly in the camp that viewed a snow day as a miraculous gift from the universe.
When I was a student and even early in my teaching career, there would be a sudden rush of endorphins and adrenaline as you saw your county’s name with Closed next to it on the banner at the bottom of the TV screen or heard the announcement on the radio. Later in my career and still in today’s world, the county call-out system phones or texts the news to eagerly awaiting young people, their parents, and
educators. Regardless of the method of delivery, the thrill is still the same.
educators. Regardless of the method of delivery, the thrill is still the same.
As a parent and a coach, however, I was also well aware of the chaos and headaches caused by the closing or delaying of school. Rearranging schedules and setting up child care suddenly become top-of-mind tasks for already busy working parents. They are then faced with a potentially slow, icy, and treacherous commute to work. It is easy to understand why many people aren't thrilled with the prospect of a significant snow or ice event.
Still, I was always excited at the freedom and relief a snow day would bring. However, much of my enthusiasm would wane as I began the laborious process of clearing my driveway and sidewalks of nature's gift. Shoveling six to twelve inches of snow and ice from my wide driveway, steps, and house-encircling sidewalks made me rethink how much concrete was necessary around a home.
Snow and ice removal is hard work. Wet snow can be heavy. Ice has a way of embedding itself into concrete and asphalt. Removing them can be difficult. As beautiful as newly fallen snow can be, it presents government entities, businesses, and homeowners with the vital responsibility of clearing it to help ensure the safety of walkers and drivers.
Many times in my teaching career, the streets in Bridgeport would be clean and almost dry. However, Harrison County schools would be 
closed or on a two-hour delay. Why? The answer was simple. Other communities were still working on clearing snow and ice from their roads. Why the difference? The City of Bridgeport places a very high priority on keeping our streets and roads open. We are also willing to commit the necessary people and resources to make it happen.
closed or on a two-hour delay. Why? The answer was simple. Other communities were still working on clearing snow and ice from their roads. Why the difference? The City of Bridgeport places a very high priority on keeping our streets and roads open. We are also willing to commit the necessary people and resources to make it happen.
The importance of people being able to drive from one location to another is not lost on us. People need to go to the grocery store or pharmacy. They have a doctor’s appointment or need to check on homebound relatives. These are all essential, as are so many other tasks and errands that require us to be on the roads.
Patrons’ ability to reach stores and offices is also essential for restaurants, businesses, and professionals. Many depend on their clients and customers being able to come into their establishments. When roads are impassable, they are severely hindered from doing business. Snow and ice events can temporarily hamstring our local economy.
Even those who do business online are impacted by these winter episodes. Delivery and postal service trucks can be prevented from making their rounds. Grocery and prescription delivery services can be stalled. So many aspects of our day-to-day routine can be upended by these weather events.
Knowing that people will need to travel to take care of these many different endeavors and to do business, we as a city must attempt to provide the safest possible driving surfaces. The quicker we clear the roads, the sooner we can return to normal activities. It is in the best interest and safety of all of our citizens.
The staff at Bridgeport Public Works, Bridgeport Parks & Recreation, and the Bridge are tasked with removing snow and ice from city streets, municipal parking lots, and public facility sidewalks throughout our city. They are our “Snow Warriors.” Often working in the wee hours of the morning in the bitter cold and jarring wind, they strive diligently to make sure Bridgeport is safe for our citizens.
Armed with an arsenal of snow plows, salt spreaders, snow blowers, and shovels, the men and women of these three city departments take to the streets, parking lots, and sidewalks to combat the forces of nature. What an outstanding job they do. Most importantly, they stay on the job until the job is done.
As I have traveled around the county and across the state, very few communities can even come close to the speed and professionalism in snow removal accomplished by our municipal personnel. They are well supported in their work by city staff and city council to ensure they have the proper snow removal equipment, that it is in good working order, and that they have enough equipment to answer the challenges winter throws at them.
Are the roads always perfect? No. Mother Nature is a formidable opponent at times. But the City of Bridgeport staff are among the best at 
confronting and battling the worst of her wrath. I would stack them up against anyone, anywhere. They have earned my nickname for them. The “Snow Warriors.”
confronting and battling the worst of her wrath. I would stack them up against anyone, anywhere. They have earned my nickname for them. The “Snow Warriors.”
Why Bridgeport? We take transportation seriously. We emphasize snow and ice removal in our community. The safety of our citizens demands it. Second, businesses and government offices must be open and accessible by our community members to function and thrive.
Our streets are the network that ties our community together. Providing the personnel and equipment needed to see that our road system, public parking lots, and municipal facility sidewalks are open is a fundamental goal of the City of Bridgeport staff and city council. This past week was a prime example of the importance of being prepared.
Thank you to our “Snow Warriors” in Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and at the Bridge for being ready, willing, and able to get and keep our city moving. Thank you for putting in the long hours to ensure it is as safe as possible for everyone in Bridgeport after these winter weather events.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows a city truck out plowing and salting, while the bottom two photos show equipment used in the city garage and a warning sign you will see on the back of a salt truck, respectively. The second photo shows some of the heavy snow city staff has to deal with, in this case a Dec. 19, 2009 storm that dumped roughly eight inches on the area.
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