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State Rep. Takes Shovel To Unplowed Sidewalk

BOSTON (CBS) -- With the seemingly endless cycle of snow and digging out in Boston, one local politician has had enough of some less-than-thorough cleanup jobs.

The sidewalks on the Park Street bridge in West Roxbury haven't been cleared since last Tuesday's blizzard, and even more snow has fallen after that. So state Rep. Ed Coppinger, D-Boston, decided to take matters into his own hands.

"I received calls saying it was unsafe. I drove by and witnessed it was unsafe," Coppinger said.

He decided to start shoveling the snow himself.

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State Rep. Ed Coppinger, D-Boston (WBZ-TV)

"It took an hour, hour-and-a-half. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I expected a lot worse," Coppinger said.

Pedestrians had been forced to step into the street because the state hasn't cleared a path to the commuter rail.

"You've gotta keep your eye on the road, cars driving – some too fast – you've got to be careful," Eric Fox of West Roxbury said.

Coppinger has a personal connection to the bridge too – the Francis Coppinger Bridge was named for his father who also spent his life in public office.

"My father was a state rep in the 70s and had the same approach of nuts and bolts, making sure things got done for the community," he said.

Coppinger says usually the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is able to clear a path for pedestrians at this busy intersection. He says the fact that they haven't done so in nine days proves just how overwhelmed crews are by this record-breaking streak of snow.

Copping says he's contacted MASSDot, and it appears his efforts have paid off.

"Today we sent out a crew to ensure the sidewalk is safe and passable for pedestrians," MASSDot said in a statement to WBZ-TV. "In the future, we will step up our efforts to clear sidewalks and bridges in West Roxbury as well as other neighborhoods where there is a high volume of pedestrians.  We also thank Representative Coppinger for his efforts and appreciate his help."

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