The Public Services Department has begun its annual spring street sweeping operations. Once the weather breaks and the opportunity presents itself, sweeping units are brought out of storage, dusted off, thoroughly checked over, and put into service. Residents may have already seen the sweepers out earlier this month. The department likes to get a jump on sweeping at every opportunity because there is so much of it to be done. The sweeping runs throughout the year, with the bulk of it taking place during the months of March, April, and May.

Night sweeping operations usually commence sometime in mid to late April. However, the night sweeping may always be delayed due to an early spring storm. The night sweeping operations last anywhere from one to two weeks typically, depending on the amount of sand on the streets and sidewalks. Together with day sweeping operations, the department likes to get through the entire city twice in a three week period, resulting in minimal night sweeping operations.

The department has been called out to treat the roads at least 40 times this winter since Nov. 15, and during that period we have dispensed approximately 2,000 yards of sand on sidewalks, parking lots, islands and roughly 85 miles of streets. Staffing for night sweeping operations usually consists of two sweeper operators, and two truck drivers to transport the sweeping debris. During sidewalk sweeping operations at least two more employees are needed, and this process is carefully orchestrated between the sidewalk sweeping crew, and the street sweepers. The first pass is to get the bulk of the sand and debris, with the second to tidy up and pick up areas that were missed on the first. If you have any questions about the sweeping operations, feel free to contact the Public Services Department at 854-0660 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

-Submitted by Arty Ledoux, deputy director of Westbrook Public Services

Putting street sweepers back into service is an annual rite of spring for the Public Services Department.