Mississauga residents can expect to see more activity on roads and in residential areas across the city as work crews begin the City’s annual spring maintenance and clean-up program. The work is the result of winter weather affecting infrastructure such as roads, bike lanes, sidewalks and more.

“At this time of the year, potholes and cracks in the road are more visible due to temperature changes between freezing and thawing,” said Mickey Frost, Director, Works Operations and Maintenance. “Once the winter season is over, our staff continue to maintain the 5,600 lane kilometres of roads and on-street bike lanes, as well as other infrastructure residents rely on year-round. It’s another way the City prioritizes road safety and our commitment to Vision Zero, while ensuring Mississauga residents can travel safely using their preferred mode of transportation.”

The City’s spring maintenance and clean-up program includes:

· Pothole and road damage repair on City roads and on-street bike lanes, including residential streets

· Sidewalk inspection and repair

· Sod damage repair caused by snow clearing

· Litter clean-up on roadways, catchbasins and drains

· Street sweeping (begins in April) on roads and on-street bike lanes first, followed by curb-facing sidewalks, traffic islands, hard-surfaced boulevards and curbside gutters.

“Our street sweeping program is weather dependant, requiring the snow to disappear,” added Frost. “That’s why we usually begin this program in April. We’ve seen how winter weather can sometimes carry over into early spring. We also require storage space for our street sweeping equipment in our work yards, which currently holds our snow clearing equipment until the end of March.”

While City staff monitor and inspect areas of the city that need to be cleaned or repaired, residents can also help keep Mississauga’s infrastructure safe and in good repair. Residents can report potholes and damaged sidewalks, curbs and sod by calling 311 (905-615-4311 outside City limits), using the Pingstreet mobile app or submitting an online service request.

As spring maintenance work begins, the City reminds residents:

· Drive according to road conditions

· Slow down in work areas and give crews and equipment lots of space

· Respect and follow any barricades and signage at work sites

· Do not approach work crews or equipment at any time

· Be patient and expect delays on the road during repairs

For more information about street and road maintenance, visit mississauga.ca/roads.