Sunapee street sweeping set for May 6-7, residents urged to use caution

Curbside parking, coned-off lanes and temporary traffic directions are the main obstacles Sunapee drivers should expect when the Highway Department sends out its annual street sweeper on Wednesday, May 6, and Thursday, May 7. Residents and visitors who normally leave vehicles near the street edge should be ready to move them so crews can get through without delay and so loose debris is not left in front of homes, businesses or downtown storefronts.

The town’s notice, posted April 29, framed the work as routine seasonal maintenance with a practical payoff: cleaner roads, better safety and protection for Sunapee’s stormwater systems. That matters in a lake town where grit, sand and other roadside material can wash into ditches, culverts and eventually toward Lake Sunapee. The department asked people to watch for posted signs, stay clear of coned areas and follow any temporary traffic instructions given on site.

Street sweeping also fits into a wider spring maintenance cycle already underway in Sunapee, New Hampshire. The Highway Department and Buildings and Grounds moved to summer hours on April 23, with staff working Monday through Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the offices closed on Fridays. The town’s posted-road weight limits were set to run from March 10 through an estimated May 1, and a 2026 Roadway Paving Projects bid package went out on April 28, with proposals due by 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 13.

Project Sunapee scheduled Sunapee Green-Up Day 2026 for Saturday, May 2, with in-person registration at the Highway Department, adding another layer of roadside cleanup just before the sweeping begins. The timing points to a concentrated effort to clear winter residue before late-spring traffic, weekend visitors and seasonal activity pick up around town.

The Highway Department says its mission includes maintaining highways, sidewalks, stormwater collection systems, bridges, dams and intersection signalization, which is why the sweeping is being treated as more than housekeeping. Questions about the work can be directed to the Highway Department at (603) 763-5060. In Sunapee, the short window for sweeping is one more signal that the town is clearing the way for the season ahead.