What's Happening in Spokane Valley, WA…

Spokane Valley officials recently announced that the city has begun its spring street sweeping effort, and asks residents to help by obeying a few rules.

Sweepers will be on the streets from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Residents are asked to keep any debris, including leaves, away from the roads. They are also asked to move items such as bicycles and basketball hoops out of the way so sweepers can get all the way to the curb, and clean the streets more efficiently. City officials are updating the sweeping on the city’s website, but cleaning programs often also use flyer printing to create a mailer for residents and keep them informed.

In addition, motorists are warned to be careful when passing or approaching a street sweeper, since the machines may hurl debris and dust into the air.

Spokane Valley sweeps its streets each spring to remove debris and dirt that might pile up otherwise and clog the drains, leaving water standing in the roads. Standing water is a hazard for drivers, but it also can damage both the road surface and any underlying support structures, resulting in surfaces that will have to be repaired or replaced.

Although there are several ways to clean streets, Spokane Valley uses sweeping as it is more cost-effective than vacuuming out drywells, or replacing clogged drywells.

Sweeping operations are expected to continue until the end of July.