Sidewalks still covered by snow

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- The roads are on their way to being completely cleared. However, more needs to be done before kids can head back to school.

Sidewalks and bus stops must be in good shape before the classes can start up again.

Schools may be closed for the day, but there is still plenty of activity in and around them.

Public Works crews in New London are making sure sidewalks and walkways are clear near Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. Marie Gravell is also pitching in, clearing the sidewalk in front of her house.

"You know you have to clear the sidewalk in front of your house," asked News 8's Tina Detelj.

"Definitely do and I did that the first day," said Gravell, "went out two or three times."

While some sidewalks are clear, others are far from it. The snow on some sidewalks hasn't even been touched by a shovel or a snow blower. And if it's the way to school for a student that student may be forced to walk out onto the street to get to school.

And in some cases dangerously close to traffic.

"They're going to have trouble getting to their little bus stop cause there's so much snow," said William Schull, "probably have to wait on the edge of the road."

Students could also be forced to wait on top of snow banks for school buses. Whether you're a parent or not you are encouraged to keep sidewalks clear, and that's not just in front of your house, it's the length of your property.

"Knowing the kids have had a couple of days off it should give people a chance to clean their own sidewalks and if they can't just let us know, I mean most of us would be willing to help people," said Gravell. "We really got to group together, we got to be a neighborhood, we got to be a community in order to survive."