In some Alexandria neighborhoods, snow removal crews arrived as conquering heroes, quickly laying waste to giant piles of “snowcrete” that hobbled much of the city.
Just a few blocks away, residents chipped away with pick axes and shovels, attempting to free cars, trucks and SUVs from ice-capped drifts.
The striking scenes highlighted the city’s uneven emergence from an epic winter storm that left more than a half-foot of snow, topped by layers of sleet. Hardened for days in subfreezing temperatures, the frozen mix formed a thick blanket of ice that staggered early response teams…