Street sweeping operations are an essential part of cleaning up the transportation network, and our Maintenance Quality Standards (MQS) require staff to complete them by May 31st. Street sweeping typically begins as early as the weather will allow and occurs during both daytime and nighttime shifts. But when the overnight temperature drops below zero, operations must be paused as the water used on the road can form into ice, creating dangerous conditions. Because of recent winter-like weather and colder temperatures, this spring’s cleanup and street sweeping activities are starting later than usual. Timelines may be impacted but staff will do their best to stay on schedule. More information about street sweeping operations is available at Ottawa.ca/springmaintenance.
How is city-wide street sweeping completed?
City-wide street sweeping is done in phases:
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Sidewalks, bus stop pads and medians are cleaned first by a variety of methods using sidewalk sweepers, leaf blowers, flusher trucks and hand brooms.
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A sidewalk sweeper will work in the area first, pushing grit, debris and dust onto the roadway. A vacuum sweeper or mechanical sweeper truck then picks up the majority of grit, debris, small particles and dust removing it from the road.
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This operation might be repeated several times to ensure a clean surface. If vehicles are parked on the street, the unswept area is noted, and crews will return to sweep that portion at a later date.
There are no parking restrictions during city-wide street sweeping operations. However, staff encourage anyone who can to please remove vehicles from the roadway to allow the street sweeping teams to complete their clean-up efficiently.
Street sweeping in concentrated areas
In urban neighbourhoods that support continuous on-street parking year-round, staff complete what is known as concentrated street sweeping. Concentrated street sweeping operations are an important and necessary requirement in the urban neighbourhoods to efficiently move through the streets. Unlike city-wide street sweeping operations, parking restrictions are in effect in neighbourhoods where concentrated street sweeping is underway. Residents are required to move their cars to allow street sweeping operations to be completed, and signage will be posted to alert residents when these operations are scheduled to take place.
Concentrated street sweeping operations began on April 7. While the sweepers had to take a brief three-day pause because of Monday’s winter-like event, they are now back on the roads and operations have since resumed. Weather permitting, concentrated street sweeping is expected to be completed on April 18.
