A street sweeper makes its rounds along Altawana Drive in Riverside on Tuesday.--News Photo Collin Gallant
The annual parade of street sweepers will be coming to a community near you on Monday, according to city officials who ask Hatters to move their vehicles off the street when required, though traffic enforcement, like issuing tickets, will be “minimal to none” this year.
The spring program typically causes some maneuvering for residents who must have cars off certain streets as the machines move block by block.
This year, with so many people at home during typical working hours, officials say the gravel cleanup has been progressing well on major roads, but it will move to side streets next week.
“It’s probably been a little bit easier on main routes just because of the lower traffic (volume),” said Jeremy Petryshyn, head of operations with the municipal works department. “But things might be more problematic in residential areas due to parking.
“We are hoping that people will help us out, move their cars and we can get the areas cleaned.”
Hatters can expect large signs announcing dates prior to street sweepers moving in to their neighbourhood, as well as signs going up block by block the preceding day.
The “no parking” signs can give city bylaw officers the ability to ticket cars that remain in place and impede the sweepers, but Petryshyn said he expects Hatters will pitch in and that officers will use discretion. “We expect ticketing will be minimal to none,” he said.
Typically crews begin doing main routes as soon as they expect winter weather to clear in the spring, then start in earnest on school zones during Easter break, then advance to residential neighbourhood and side streets thereafter.
This year though, work has been ongoing on major roads and boulevards since late March but delayed schools to this point, and will blend them in to 17 zones that make up the communities throughout the city.
