The annual residential street sweeping program for 1997 started on April 1 and was completed on June 27. This service was provided by Reilly Sweeping, Incorporated though a contract with the County. The Division of Highway Services was satisfied with the contractor's performance.

The program, which covers approximately 90% of County-maintained roadways, was completed within budget and schedule. Nearly 2,900 tons of debris were collected and used as cover material at the County landfill.

The Division made a focused effort to improve its information delivery about the Sweeping Program. Literature describing the program was sent to community and civic organizations. Periodic updates, including maps of the areas in progress, appeared on our Internet Web Page and on Cable Television Montgomery. The improved information flow contributed to the success of this year's program.

Contingent on funding approval, the Division of Highway Services plans to begin the 1998 Sweeping Program in early April, 1998. We will announce the schedule approximately two months in advance of beginning our work. CHECK THIS PAGE IN MID-FEBRUARY, 1998, FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.

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Project: Residential street sweeping/winter storm clean-up.

Administered by: The Department of Public Works and Transportation, Division of Highway Services. For general information please call 301-217-2159.

Purpose:

• To remove winter abrasives and other debris from County Streets.
• To improve the appearance of out neighborhoods
• To improve the safety of our streets.
• To reduce maintenance costs by keeping the drainage systems clean.
• To reduce pollutants entering the Chesapeake Bay.

Contractor: This year’s program will be done through a contract with Reilly’s Street Sweeping, Inc. They will employ sweepers that combine a circular brushing motion with a vacuum to remove debris. The cost of the program is $350.000.

Start Date: This year’s program will begin April 1, 1997 weather permitting.

Duration: Our Contractor will work Monday through Friday with the possibility of adding some Saturdays to our Program. Based on our current resources we expect the program to take twelve to fourteen weeks ( we will negotiate with the Contractor to determine if more sweepers can be added that would reduce the period of time needed ).

Accomplishments: We anticipate sweeping about 2,000 miles of residential and commercial roads. This accounts for about 87% of our County maintained roadway system. In 1996 we collected over 3,500 tons of material. We have investigated the possibility of recycling the collected material; however, due to the high level of organic material in the debris, the recycling proved ineffective.

Public Notification: County Cable Channel 55 will update which neighborhoods are being swept each day. This Internet site will be updated on a weekly basis. We are unable to provide any advance posting of signs. We also cannot re-sweep any areas where cars were parked.

General Direction: This year’s operation will start in the Olney/Damascus areas, west of Georgia Avenue. The operation will be moving in a counter clock-wise direction to Gaithersburg through Potomac, Bethesda, Silver Spring, and ending in the Colesville/Olney areas east of Georgia Avenue. We start the program in different areas each year to reduce the likelihood that the same areas are not always first or last.

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