Spring Street Maintenance Underway In Peterborough

The City of Peterborough has begun its annual spring maintenance program of street sweeping and pothole treatment, announced on Thursday.

pHOTO courtesy of The City Of Peterborough.

Public Works crews are patching potholes throughout the City. They frequently occur in the spring when water gets below the road's surface through pavement cracks. Water expands when it freezes, increasing the size of the crack and repeated freeze/thaw cycles as weather changes weaken the pavement. Traffic in weakened areas can cause the road's surface to deteriorate, causing potholes.

The City asks motorists to use caution and reduce speed when approaching road maintenance crews, leaving a safe distance for crews to complete their work.

The street sweeping program removes pollutants from road surfaces and reduces urban runoff through the stormwater system to downstream water bodies. It also improves the cleanliness and aesthetics of City streets and parking lots by removing residual salt and sand used during winter operations, according to the City

Between March and May, once temperatures are continuously above freezing, 958 lane kilometres of roadway, including all city-owned sidewalks, trails and parking lots, must be cleaned. Several areas receive a secondary sweep as required based on the amount of residue on the surface. The work typically takes seven weeks to complete, weather pending.

This year, operations will start at the city’s east end, followed by the north and west ends and finish at the south end.

Residents are asked to keep streets clear to improve the street-sweeping program's overall effectiveness. By removing sports nets, placing garbage and recycling containers on the lawn or driveway and not parking on the street, residents can ensure sweeping equipment can reach the full street surface.

When approaching street-sweeping vehicles, please proceed with caution and allow for plenty of room for safe operations.

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