Uppsala municipality has started early removal of 12,000 tons of sand spread on streets for winter grip, due to warm weather. The sand will be collected to prevent spring slips, washed for environmental safety, and reused or disposed of.
Uppsala municipality is removing 12,000 tons of sand used during winter for slip prevention on streets, sidewalks, bike paths, and bus routes. The work began earlier than usual thanks to warm weather and is expected to take about two months.
Without removal, the sand becomes slippery in spring, increasing accident risks, according to Louise Söderström, deputy project manager at the street unit: 'The grit becomes slippery, so you slip on it instead.'
Contractors first perform rough sweeping to clear piled-up sand, followed by main collection. Schedules are published on uppsala.se; typical timelines are six weeks in April-May, but weather like rain can extend it.
Post-collection, the sand is washed to remove environmentally hazardous substances before reuse or disposal, as standard procedure to minimize road maintenance impact (SVT Nyheter Uppsala). This high volume reflects heavy winter spreading, ensuring street safety for spring and summer.
