Operation Clean Sweep Underway In Brookhaven

BROOKHAVEN, GA -- Operation Clean Sweep begins Monday evening in Brookhaven. “For the first time in our city’s history, we are dispatching street sweepers to every city-maintained street, drive, road, lane, cul-de-sac and circle," said Mayor John Ernst. The event follows years of aggressive paving and road rehabilitation. In 2018, Brookhaven Public Works Department paved 40 streets totaling more than 13 lane-miles. Since 2014, the city has spent over $12 million on city streets and finishing nearly 48 lane-miles of fresh asphalt.

“We are well on our way to have the best roads in the state. In only five years, we successfully raised the overall Pavement Condition Index of Brookhaven streets from 60 to 70.43,” said Ernst. “With Operation Clean Sweep, they will look as good as they are.

Public Works Director Hari Karikaran explained that in order to minimize the impact on traffic, Operation Clean Sweep will occur only at night.

“The trucks will only be deployed between dusk and dawn, ultimately completing all 254 lane-miles of city streets by the end of the month, weather permitting,” said Karikaran. “Trash and debris in the roadway is unsightly and unsafe. In addition to garbage and dirt, these trucks scoop up potential road hazards like hardware and other bits of metal that can puncture tires.”

While the sweeping of all Brookhaven roads at one time is a first, it is not the first time that the city has contracted for street sweeping. In September 2017, street sweepers were called in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Street sweepers cleaning up debris after Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

In May of this year, the city used street sweepers for 58 lane-miles of roads, including the course for the Brookhaven Bolt 5K.

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Image City of Brookhaven