City of Wichita Public Works & Utilities staff placed about 16,000 tons of material treating Wichita roads during winter storms over the last couple of months. That's about 1,000 tons more than last year.
Half of that material is sand, which can be a safety hazard, impede drainage structures, and leave quite a mess.
Beginning Monday, March 28, City street sweepers, which have been named the Sweepers of the Plains, will begin a predetermined route sweeping arterial streets.
There will be some changes to the street sweeping schedule to allow for more sweepers to be operated overnight. Daytime street sweeping will prioritize school routes.
The target date for completion of the street sweeping operation is June 15. Residential street sweeping will resume at that time.
All of the sand recovered during street sweeping will be reused as required cover material for waste. Over the last five years, the City has saved $3.2 million by reusing the material in this way.