The Department of Public Works has a new weapon in its battle against those unruly roadside encroachers—brush, weeds and grasses. A recently acquired boom flail mower will be used to beat back the wild overgrowth that springs up every summer and seems to be flourishing particularly well this year. Like a weed whacker on steroids, it will make short work of summer growth along roadways and other areas around the city. Already it has been utilized on Barker Avenue and By Street, Douglas Road and Middlesex and Jackson Streets to clear roadsides and empty lots.
With its long arm, the mower also provides us with the ability to mow along embankments that are difficult to access. The mower is an accessary attachment for our new trackless vehicles purchased last year and can do its work either horizontally or vertically.
This new tool will reduce costs for a variety of roadside maintenance projects as only one operator will be required to clear most areas. This work was previously done by hand or with hand power trimmers. Safety will also be improved and the trackless vehicle will also have less of an impact on passing traffic.
Centralville roadway before mower attack.
Mower in action along same stretch.
That thing would barely fit in my yard
But I want one anyway.