Street cleaning across the city starts Monday
Calgarians are being asked to keep an eye out for street sweeping signs in their area as the city prepares to launch its spring cleanup program on Monday.
“What we’re asking Calgarians is to help us out by moving their vehicles off the roadway or any garbage containers if it is collection day,” City of Calgary road maintenance manager Bill Biensch said Thursday.
Biensch said because Calgary experienced a heavy snowfall this winter, there’s more material to clear off the roads. Crews will be removing sanding materials and other debris from more than 16,000 lane km of city streets.
“We actually put out twice as much material in this winter season than we did in the previous winter season, so we expect our spring cleanup will take a bit longer this year, because of the amount of sanding material and debris that’s out there,” he said.
Crews will be operating seven days a week in residential areas and on major roads four nights a week until the street sweeping program is complete.
The street cleaning schedule is available on the City of Calgary’s website, although Biensch said the calendar might be adjusted. All communities will have signs posted 12 hours in advance of street cleaning.
The city uses about 34 street sweepers, including 20 that it rents for the spring cleanup. The cost of the program this year is $7.6 million.
Kevin Bulmer, enforcement coordinator with the Calgary Parking Authority, said if people don’t move their vehicles off the streets when a parking ban is in place for cleaning, they could be ticketed and towed, typically within a block of where the car was parked. Vehicles should be kept off streets until the parking ban signs are removed.
Last year, about 2,800 tickets were issued for vehicles that weren’t moved for street sweeping.
Biensch noted street cleaning helps prevent sliding on loose material and reduces the amount of gravel going into storm drains.
Street cleaning in residential areas is expected to finish by June 1. The schedule can be viewed online at Calgary.ca/sweep, where residents can also sign up for e-mail and text alerts 24 hours in advance of cleaning.