The City's annual spring cleanup
The City's annual spring cleanup of streets, walks, back lanes, and boulevards is scheduled to begin Sunday night, April 13, 2008. (for more details, please read the full media release below)
WINNIPEG - April 11, 2008 - The City's annual spring cleanup of streets, walks, back lanes, and boulevards is scheduled to begin Sunday night, April 13, 2008.
Most sweeping on the regional streets will take place at night, when traffic volumes are lowest. Daytime sweeping will focus primarily on collector and residential streets. Once the regional streets are completed, crews will work day and night on the balance of residential streets.
Boulevard cleanup will focus first on boulevards and centre medians along major routes. Cleanup of boulevards in residential areas is limited to areas where there is excessive accumulation of sand.
"Cleanup crews must watch the weather closely in the early weeks of the campaign and stop operations if night time temperatures fall below freezing." said Bill Larkin, Director of Public Works, "During the cleanup, water is sprayed onto the streets to control dust. When temperatures fall below freezing we can't use water and are forced to curtail sweeping. Similarly frozen boulevards can抰 effectively be cleaned."
It is estimated that approximately 45,000 tonnes of aggregate (from winter ice control) will be removed from streets, walks, and boulevards during the cleanup. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use caution around heavy equipment which will be operating throughout the city over the coming weeks.
Motorists are also advised to watch for temporary No Parking signs on city streets. These signs, placed well in advance of sweeping operations, indicate the hours of prohibited parking. Vehicles parked in violation of the prohibited times may be ticketed and towed at the owners expense. In 2007, over 1,600 vehicles were ticketed and towed.
In accordance with City of Winnipeg By-law 64/2003, the public is reminded that it is an offence to place temporary signs in the public rights-of-way e.g. on boulevards, sidewalks and medians as these signs may impact on the safety of motorists and pedestrians, create traffic hazards and impede cleanup activities.
The $3.5 million cleanup is expected to take four to five weeks and will involve approximately 200 pieces of equipment and more than 500 people.
