Monday, July 29, 2013

Spring/Summer Street Sweeping Protects Local Streams

Since April, the Division of Highway Services has been cleaning residential roadways and has nearly finished the street sweeping program for the season.

This joint effort between the Montgomery County departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection removes abrasives and other debris left behind after the winter snow season in priority watersheds. Street sweeping also helps keep drainage systems clean and improves the appearance and safety of County streets. Based on past results, officials expect the effort to remove about 2,000 tons of material that would, otherwise, be washed into local streams.

Brightly colored signs are posted in neighborhoods a few days before the sweeper arrives. To improve the effectiveness of the program, residents are urged to find alternate parking while their streets are cleaned. Daily updates on the street sweeping schedule are available online at the Division of Highway Services’ website. Or call 311 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.