SOUTH CHICAGO — Chicago's streets and alleys have been looking a bit spiffier than usual, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Friday.
After hitting the city's streets in earnest starting April 1 — sending motorists scrambling to make sure their car isn't set to get hit with a $60 fine — the sweepers have cleaned 116,000 miles of Chicago streets, avenues and boulevards in 2017.
City officials said that milestone is 7 percent more than last year, thanks to more efficient crews and a milder winter.
In addition, 60 percent more alleys have been cleaned as compared to last year, officials said.
The city added 19 new sweepers to its fleet this season, officials said.
There are 4,000 miles of streets in Chicago as well as 1,900 miles of alleys, according to the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
Throughout the summer, city crews have been targeting neighborhoods as part of a service blitz program.
With crews at work in South Chicago Friday, crews have filled 2,000 potholes, hauled away approximately 1,900 bags of debris, repaired or replaced more than 500 traffic and street signs, removed graffiti from nearly 200 areas; replaced almost 100 burned-out streetlights and towed 70 abandoned cars, officials said.
To request a city service, call 311 or go online.
