The Roads Division in Public Works is responsible for the spring clean-up of paved roads and sidewalks throughout the City. During an average winter, approximately 15,000 to 20,000 tons of sand is deposited on City streets and sidewalks to improve traction on icy surfaces. Spring sweeping operations begin when the main roads are clear of ice and when temperatures permit the use of water to suppress dust without freezing. Weather permitting, street sweeping operates 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday.
Air Quality and Sweeping
The City operates its sweeping operations to minimize dust. Prince George's Clean Air Bylaw regulates sweeping on highways and private property. In addition, the Government of British Columbia also monitors air quality and issues advisories and readings.
Sweeping Operations and Restrictions
Downtown
The Downtown area is the highest priority for sweeping operations. Once the major spring sand removal operations are completed, downtown streets are usually swept twice a week during evenings and a sidewalk vacuum is used a few times a week for litter control.
Parking is not permitted on downtown streets during spring and summer sweeping operations from 1:00am to 7:00am. Cars impeding sweeping operations on any city street may be ticketed and/or towed.
Arterial and Collector Roads
Arterial and collector roads are the next priority area for sweeping operations due to their high traffic volumes and large amounts of sand deposited during the winter for ice control. Street line painting begins once spring street clean-up is completed. Arterial and collector roads in the bowl area are swept once a month throughout the summer.
Residential Areas
Residential areas are swept after the downtown area and all major roads have been cleared. Residential sweeping is usually completed within a 10-week period. Additional sweeping takes place throughout Prince George on a as-needed basis.
Parking is not permitted on residential streets during spring and summer sweeping operations from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Cars impeding sweeping operations on any city street may be ticketed and/or towed.
Residential Street Sweeping Rotation
The sweeping priority is rotated annually to ensure equal coverage throughout the city. Curbed areas in Prince George have been split into nine sweeping areas (1 - 9) with the area swept first one year moving to the bottom of the list the following year, and so on.
Snow build up in non-curbed areas usually takes longer to disappear and often dictates where sweeping operations can be undertaken. Subject to the conditions of snow melt, the six non-curbed areas (10 - 15) are also rotated on an annual basis.
- Area 1 – Millar Addition, VLA, South Fort George (to be swept first in 2019)
- Area 2 – Fraser View, Lansdowne, Vanbow, Seymour, DL777, Assman, Perry (to be swept first in 2020)
- Area 3 – Nechako, Crescents, Central Fort George (to be swept first in 2021)
- Area 4 – Quinson, Spruceland (to be swept first in 2022)
- Area 5 – Highland, Highglen, Lakewood (to be swept first in 2023)
- Area 6 – Heritage, Foothills (to be swept first in 2024)
- Area 7 – Westwood, Pinecone, Pinewood (to be swept first in 2025)
- Area 8 – Peden Hill, Charella Gardens, Starlane (to be swept first in 2026)
- Area 9 – College Heights (to be swept first in 2027)
- Area 10 – Lalonde, Lafreniere, Parkridge, Nolan, Haldi, Western Acres (to be swept first in 2028)
- Area 11 – Cranbrook Hill (to be swept first in 2029)
- Area 12 – PG Pulpmill Rd., Northwood Pulp Mill Rd., Noranda, Foothills, North Nechako (to be swept first in 2030)
- Area 13 – Hart Highlands, Highland Drive, S. Kelly, West and East Austin, Foothills to Chief Lake (to be swept first in 2031)
- Area 14 – Boeing, Giscome (to be swept first in 2032)
- Area 15 – Willow Forest, Sintich, Pacific Avenue (to be swept first in 2018)