The land management company "Mano aplinka", which oversees most of the capital, has already lined up its winter artillery: over 100 motorized tools and more than 500 shovels, with the same number of gardeners ready to work.
"Last winter showed that the elements can be so strong that neither technology nor sand and salt will help. The situation was controlled by the air temperature - we were fighting with bare ice in constant rain and cold. That's why we are ready to work around the clock this year as well. In the event of a landslide, we will work around the clock to prevent disasters from happening", says Diana Lubė, head of the company's Territory Management Group.
Last season was so stressful for city officials that this year they are ignoring the forecasters' words that there will be no winter. The company's specialists have been monitoring weather forecasts through three internet programs since the end of October. According to D. Lubė, this way you can be sure of the expected workload. If snow is in the forecast, heavy equipment drivers are on standby and will be called to work at any time of the day if needed.
During the winter season, 14 riders, 60 mopeds and heavy equipment, which is counted over 30, will clean the sidewalks and other walkways in the capital. As many as 6 auxiliary trailers will take care of the supply of the sand-salt mixture. The company rents some of this equipment this year or has specially renovated it.
The equipment of the janitors is also ready: to protect themselves from the cold weather winter work clothes will help. Almost 500 special wooden shovels with metal blades have been produced - such shovels make it easier to cope with the work, because the blades cut through the ice better.
According to the instructions of the Municipality, the company "Mano aplinka" is obliged to clean the sidewalks near the streets of the capital 11 times a month, and the courtyards of apartment buildings - 9 times a month during the winter season. The driving part in the yards must be cleaned 4 times. It is also stipulated that the cleaning work must start from public transport stops, approaches to pedestrian crossings, stairs, sidewalks of main streets. Only after that, the sidewalks, driveways and parking lots of the yards are cleaned.
The company cleans the territories of 12 micro-districts of the capital throughout the year - almost 70 percent. Vilnius sidewalks, squares, courtyards of residential houses and other public spaces. During the last winter, the equipment and gardeners of "My Environment" excavated 137 million. square meters of snow and spread 6000 cubic meters of sand and salt mixture.
