Boston Purchases Massive Snowblowers to Better Combat Winter

Boston’s Public Works Department has purchased two truck-mounted snow blowers to more efficiently clear the streets during periods of heavy winter snowfall, the city announced Monday in a statement.

Over one billion cubic square feet of snow fell in Boston this past winter, shattering old records and setting a new record with 108 inches of snow. The city was forced to rent similar snowblowers to the ones they purchased during removal efforts.

The snowblowers, which each come at a cost of $645,000, have the ability to clear 2,750 tons of snow per hour with a casting distance up to 150 feet. Each machine takes 90 days to construct.

The machines will be mounted on four-wheel front-loaders from Volvo Construction Equipment, with tires over four feet in diameter. Large dump trucks will be able to drive alongside the snowblowers to catch snow and cart it off to disposal sites.

295,000 miles worth of roadway was plowed this past winter by the Public Works Department, which is equivalent to 12 trips around the world.

The city of Montreal has used similar machines to combat recent snow storms. Here’s a look at them in the thick of action:

Photo Credit: Boston Public Works Department