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The city of Suffolk is joining other towns and cities across the country to observe National Public Works Week May 15-21.

The Suffolk Public Works Department thanked citizens for “reporting potholes, streetlight outages, driving carefully through work zones, placing your trash can away from obstacles, keeping debris out of the storm drains and much more.”

“National Public Works Week is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the important work we do for the city,” said Director of Public Works Robert Lewis. “I would like to thank the staff for their dedication and hard work. The work they do is vital to the quality of life and well-being of the people of Suffolk, and I want them to know their efforts do not go unnoticed.”

The Public Works Department is responsible for roughly 1,600 miles of roadway, empties over 35,000 trash cans each week, provides public transport for over 100,000 passengers, traps and analyzes hundreds of thousands of mosquitos, and maintains traffic lights, street markings, road signs, all city vehicles and much more, the city said in a news release.

The department has scheduled a Touch-a-Truck event for May 20 at the North Suffolk Library, 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Road, from noon to 3 p.m. Several Public Works vehicles will be available for children to see, touch and explore. Information about Public Works services will also be available, and staff will be present to answer questions.

Public Works vehicles and staff will also be part of the Main Street Daycare Touch-a-Truck event on May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mills E. Godwin Courts Complex parking lot, 150 N. Main St.