The annual street sweeping program got underway in Lethbridge on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Street sweeping campaign underway in Lethbridge

Apr 9, 2024 | 1:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Local roadways are set to be cleaned up.

The City of Lethbridge street sweeping program started on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Crews will be clearing up streets of sand, dust, dirt and other debris.

The 2024 campaign is starting on the west side of Lethbridge, before switching to the north and wrapping up in the south. However, officials note that drivers might have to change-up zones to avoid waste collection.

Dependent on weather, ‘no parking’ signs will be placed on impacted streets 24 hours before sweeping begins, allowing residents to move their vehicles before 7:30 a.m. the following day.

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A ‘No Parking’ sign seen on Rocky Mountain Blvd. W. in Lethbridge during the launch of the annual street sweeping program, April 9, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

Sweeping will be conducted on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with all residential roadways expected to be completed by the end of June, or early July.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS

The City of Lethbridge says parking can resume on affected streets after 3:30 p.m. on the day of sweeping. Signage will stay in place if crews need to return to the area.

Once sweeping is fully complete, signs will be removed.

Officials say parking tickets of $50 will be issued to vehicles that impede the operation of sweepers.

“After several snowfall events and us applying lots of sand, sweeping helps take on a huge cleaning chore,” says Juliane Ruck, transportation operations manager.

“When cars are left on the road, we can’t sweep that spot. We get a lot of complaints about people who didn’t move their car, so we do issue parking fines to help get that message across.”

Residents can download the Lethbridge Loop app to receive notifications about sweeping in their neighbourhood, view a schedule at the City of Lethbridge website or check out a live street sweeping map that is available online.

NIGHT SWEEPING

Ruck adds that night sweeping will occur for arterial roads, downtown and roads in industrial areas from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays. The night sweeping will start on Sunday, April 14 and is done to avoid impeding traffic during busier daytime hours.

IMPORTANCE OF SWEEPING

Street sweeping helps avoid materials like sand, dust, dirt and other debris from washing up into the Oldman River via the storm sewer system.

The City says the work also reduces dust and help improve conditions for cycling, walking and driving. Collected sand from winter ice control is reconditioned and reused in the next year’s sanding operations, while residual waste material is disposed of in the landfill.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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