With the University of Tennessee classes being out for winter break and most students off campus, City crews will be thoroughly cleaning the streets of Fort Sanders and removing leaves and trash from hard-to-reach crevices, corners and drain grates.

The Fort Sanders Winter Roundup will be conducted on streets running north and south on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, and on streets running east and west on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. 

To do the deep cleaning, it’s necessary that all vehicles be temporarily relocated off the affected streets on the day they’re being swept.

Traffic is expected to continue to flow on the affected streets, although some temporary short-term closures may occur as needed due to safety protocols. On the days of the street sweepings, parking will not be allowed on the affected streets, and towing of parked vehicles will be enforced.

“We appreciate the help and understanding of Fort Sanders residents in making this successful,” City Parking Systems Manager Mark Elliott said. “It’s definitely a benefit to the neighborhood residents. 

“With Fort Sanders being such a dense neighborhood with a very high demand for on-street parking, temporarily relocating parked cars for these two days is really the only way to effectively get to the leaves, cigarette butts and other trash that’s gotten crammed into tight spaces. Our equipment otherwise can’t reach and remove the debris.”

View maps showing which streets are affected on Dec. 15 and Dec. 18:

West side of Ft. Sanders: Dec. 15 | Dec. 18
East side of Ft. Sanders: Dec. 15 | Dec. 18

On Wednesday, Dec. 15, residents and commuters should anticipate sweeping and cleaning on 11 north-south streets bounded by Grand Avenue to the north, Cumberland Avenue to the south, 12th Street to the east and South 23rd Street to the west.

That includes 12th Street, 13th Street, 14th Street, James Agee Street, 16th Street, 18th Street, 19th Street, 20th Street, South 21st Street, 22nd Street and South 23rd Street.

Then, on Saturday, Dec. 18, workers will clean seven east-west streets between Eleventh Street on the east edge of Fort Sanders and the railroad tracks on the far western end. 

That includes Grand, Forest, Highland, Bridge, Laurel, Clinch and White avenues.

The hours of operation on both days will begin at 6 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m.

Temporary no-parking signs will be posted at least 24 to 48 hours in advance of the street-cleaning work. In addition, flyers will be placed on windshields and throughout the neighborhood prior to the start of the Fort Sanders Winter Roundup.