Residents at a Gordonsville affordable housing complex were effectively trapped in their homes this week after snow and ice blocked parking lots, sidewalks and an emergency exit — forcing town officials to divert crews from public roadways to address a growing safety crisis at the privately owned property.
Over the last two days, town officials have been working to remove large piles of compacted snow that covered sidewalks and spilled out onto the sides of the road on a stretch of Main Street spanning most of the tiny town’s historic downtown area, from Gordonsville Public Library to the Barbeque Exchange.
On the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 29, Main Street reopened to the public after town officials had closed off a stretch spanning from Baker Street to High Street at 9 a.m. to clear snow and ice. Town Manager Anthony Schienschang said that while VDOT “did a very good job of clearing the main roadways,” their efforts left large boulders of snow that made sidewalks impassable for pedestrians…