Street sweeping operations are well underway in Okotoks.

According to the town's website, operations are wrapping up in Zone 2, with crews working on Zone 3 this week.

Residents are asked to help with street cleaning procedures by clearing the streets of vehicles and other other obstructions, and by giving street sweepers plenty of space.

Transportation Supervisor with the Town of Okotoks Peter McDowell says crews have encountered a few obstructions.

"It is an inconvenience to have to steer around vehicles. We've already come across people with RV's parked out on the road, basketball hoops, hockey nets, and of course people not removing their driveway ramps. We have to go around those as well, we can't sweep over them."

McDowell says crews have encountered more obstructions in Zone 3 than the previous two, possibly due to the Easter long weekend.

According to McDowell, patience is always key, especially with street sweepers often having to make multiple passes in order to fully clear a street.

"When a street sweeper does get onto your residential street, it will take him four or five passes to completely clear that street, so we just ask people to be patient and to wait until we've finished before they move their vehicles back on. Just because we've gone in front of their house once doesn't mean we're not going to be making another pass in front of their house."

Residents are also advised to give street sweepers plenty of room, due to dust and gravel sometimes being scattered by the high velocity brushes.

Sweeping operations are running on schedule so far largely to due to the favourable weather, unlike last year which saw a period of heavy snowfall in early April. 

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