You know spring has finally sprung when City of Red Deer street sweepers begin clearing away winter gravel.
Late-night cleaning has already started on medians and arterial routes, such as Gaetz Avenue and Taylor Drive.
The city’s roads superintendent Doug Halldorson noted crews are taking advantage of low-traffic times, and will continue working on these main streets for the rest of the week.
Starting May 5, street sweeping will begin in downtown Red Deer.
And on May 6, work will start on residential routes. Halldorson advises residents to watch for ‘no parking’ signs in their neighbourhoods since bylaws officers will be ticketing any cars left in the street.
Curb ramps, basketball hoops and all other objects must be removed from roads during street clearing.
Sandwich board signs giving residents the heads-up will be placed on sidewalks — as will as large digital signs at the entry of neighbourhoods.
Halldorson said if people don’t see signs when they leave the house it the morning, but they appear in the afternoon or evening, the ‘no parking’ times apply to the next day. ”We usually give 12- to 24-hours notice.”
With more than 1,200 kms of roads in the city, the spring street sweeping effort usually takes about four weeks to complete.
Motorists need to be patient around the slow-moving vehicles, said Halldorson. “They will have flashing light… Please drive with caution.”
He added it takes 20 to 30 crew members and nearly a dozen street sweepers with accompanying box trucks to collect all the sand and gravel that helped make roads less slippery after winter snowfalls. The city owns three sweepers and contracts for six to eight more.
Since spring in central Alberta is unpredictable and it could still snow, the city is prepared to reapply sand at intersections for the safety of motorists, said Halldorson. “We’d have to come back and clear up the sand again, if we need to.”
This scenario has played out before on other snowy springs, said Halldorson. He added “Rain would be nice.”
Street sweeping is weather dependent and subject to change, so Red Deerians are encouraged to sign up with Notify Red Deer (on the city’s website reddeer.ca) to get an advance phone call, text or email.