The annual spring clean-up procedure starts as soon as most of the snow is gone and temperatures moderate.
How do we sweep?
The first locations to dry are on top of the concrete boulevards. These are cleaned using tractor mounted sweepers, hand operated motorized sweepers, brooms and shovels.
The boulevards are then washed down with pressurized water from our water trucks. In the early part of the season, potable water is used for flushing but surface water sources are used when they thaw. (132 Ave west of 116 St and corner of 68 Ave and 84 St).
The City has 4 Street Sweepers and their operation is weather dependent. Cold temps (less than 0°C) and rain or wet surfaces will delay the operations.
Sweeping continues on 3 eight hour shifts weekdays. They are all tracked by GPS so the program can be managed.
We also use a large conveyor type machine (Broce Broom) that picks up larger amounts of debris that the regular street sweepers are not designed to pick up. This unit loads the debris directly into a truck and then hauled to disposal sites.
Sweeping debris picked up from the street sweeping and the Broce broom operation are stockpiled at several locations throughout the City and eventually ends up at the Aquatera Landfill. Aquatera uses it for cover material and is accepted free of tipping fees.
Where do we sweep?
The sweepers start on the main roads, priority 1, much the same way as the snow removal program. This can take up to a month depending on weather and amounts of material on the road from winter operations.
The sweepers then proceed to priority 2 and priority 3 roads and residential areas. This program follows the same rotation in neighbourhoods as the Residential Snow Clearing Program.
When one complete rotation of the City is complete, the sweepers will move back to priority 1 routes and continue through the City. Some roads require regular sweeping; for example, Wapiti Road and around rail road tracks.
Asphalt Trails are swept by Transportation Crews. Muskoseepi Trails are swept by Parks Crews. This starts as soon as conditions allow.
Grass Medians are swept by Transportation Crews to clean debris left over from winter operations. This is done with pan broom sweepers on bobcats and starts as soon as the grassed medians dry. This is concentrated on main roads; especially intersections.
Residential Street Sweeping
Citizens may report areas in need of sweeping by phoning the Citizen Contact Centre at 780-538-0300. If you see street sweepers in your area, please keep vehicles off the road so equipment can do a thorough job.
How Can You Help?
When sweepers are in your area, you may assist the clean-up process and help crews do a thorough job by keeping your vehicles off the road.