Road Maintenance Programs

Public Works is responsible for road maintenance repairs in accordance with Town policies and to the minimum maintenance standards set by the province. Staff address concerns regarding potholes, streetlights, tree maintenance, gravel shoulders and erosion repairs, drainage ditches, storm sewers, catch basins, gravel road grading, sidewalks, parking lots and winter control.

Staff completes the maintenance of parks, sports fields and cemeteries. Other responsibilities include the ActiVan Transit Service, equipment maintenance and the Earth Day and Litter Clean Up events.

The Town is committed to quality customer service through the "Working Together, Working For You" program. To have supervisory staff address your concerns with Public Works responsibilities, please contact the Transportation and Public Works department.

Grading and dust control

Public Works uses motorized road graders to perform grading on rural roads within the Town of Halton Hills.

Spring

Occurs on all rural gravel roads
Eliminate potholes, wash boarding and other surface deficiencies
Follows a predetermined maintenance schedule
Dust suppressant material (Calcium Chloride) is applied after preparation and during dry weather.
Water is applied to alleviate dust and to extend the use of the suppressant material.

Summer

A second application of Calcium Chloride is applied.
Grading is avoided (unless necessary) as it will compromise the integrity of the product, and increase unnecessary dust

Residents

If you are travelling in areas being graded, please be cautious, as the grader will leave a windrow (pile) of materials that can be a hazard to vehicular traffic.

Potholes

Harsh Canadian winters are what creates potholes. During the winter, when temperatures rise, water from melting snow seeps into small cracks on the road. When the temperatures drop again, the water in the cracks freeze and expand. This freeze/thaw cycle causes the cracks to grow and potholes to form. When not tending to winter plowing and salting or sanding of roads, the Town’s Public Works staff use hot patch to maintain potholes until more permanent repairs can be carried out. Hot Mix asphalt is stored at a temperature that keeps it pliable and workable even during all temperatures, and effectively binds to existing asphalt concrete.

Report a pothole

Be able to identify:

What street it’s on.
Which lane (north or south).
Address or building it's in front of.
Cross streets (ex. Miller Rd and Argyll Rd).

Call Public Works at 905-873-2600, ext. 2603 to report a pothole. Please exercise caution when driving on roadways during all seasons. Drive according to road conditions and at posted speed limits in order to avoid damage to your vehicle if and when you encounter a pothole.

Minimum maintenance standards

States the maximum size (area) and depth that a pothole can be before a repair is required.
States amount of time that is allowed to pass before the repair must be completed.
Time allotted for repair varies based on the amount of traffic that occurs on that particular road.
The standard ranges from 4 days for heavily travelled roads to 60 days for roads with lesser amounts of traffic.
The Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways (MMS) and can be found on the Provincial Government's E-Laws website.

Making a claim

Claims for damage to a vehicle as a result of driving over a pothole are not generally reimbursable. Periods of precipitation and subsequent thawing and freezing do contribute to the development of potholes, particularly at intersections and in low-lying areas where water frequently stands. The Town of Halton Hills operates an aggressive pothole response program. Drivers should be aware of the potential for potholes, the presence of Town repair crews on busy streets and slow down to prevent accidents.

If you have damaged your vehicle because of a pothole:

Do not continue to drive your vehicle if it is not operating properly
Contact your insurance company
See a licensed motor vehicle mechanic
Complete an insurance claim form. You will receive a response within three business days.

For more information on making a claim, visit our Insurance Claims page. When the Town of Halton Hills receives a pothole claim, an Independent Insurance Adjuster determines whether the Minimum Maintenance Standards were met. If the standards were met for that specific pothole, the Town will not be held responsible.

Street sweeping

The Town of Halton Hills uses sweepers to clear sand debris left behind after the winter season.
Sweeping generally takes place between spring and summer, and occurs in almost all weather during these months; in fact, rain helps keep dust down during this activity.
The sand that is swept up is stockpiled and recycled for use in the winter months
During the course of sweeping operations, the brooms exert downward force on the road surface to ensure that all debris is collected. This can sometimes leave an impression on the road that resembles, and can be mistaken as paint. This is normal and should not be a cause for concern.

Extensive spring clean-up (April to June)

All Town-owned roads (which have asphalt top coats) including bridges.
Catch basins and gutters.
Hard-surfaced boulevards and medians.
Sidewalks that are on the snow plow routes.
Parking lots of the Gellert Community Centre, Mold-Masters SportsPlex, and other Town designated lots.
Country roads without curbs are flushed and/or swept as required.

Summer maintenance (June to October)

Public Works supervisory staff predetermines routes and intervals of sweeping.
Roads are swept in scheduled intervals.

Sidewalks

The Town of Halton Hills has jurisdiction over all public sidewalks, and Public Works takes requests for service regarding their deficiencies. Service and repair generally occur during the summer months including:

Inspect areas all public sidewalks annually and prioritize their repair.
Create annual replacement programs (created a year in advance of repairs).
Replace sidewalks.
Raise sunken bays.
Snow plowing programs

Animal road kill

Municipal roads

Public Works is responsible for picking up dead animals on our municipal road allowance. If you see road kill please note the following information:

The location of the incident (street/ crossing/ landmark).
Type of animal.
Where it is on the road.

Private property

The owner is responsible for the disposal of dead animals on private property.
We strongly suggest that you contact Pest Control services. You can find these services online or in the local Yellow Pages.
If you choose to remove the animals on your own, please exercise extreme caution as contact may pose a risk to human health

Frequently asked questions

When can our street be swept to remove winter sand and debris?
All streets within Halton Hills are swept at least once in an intensive Spring Street Sweeping Program in April. Every street with a curb and gutter is put on a predetermined route assigned by Public Works.
Can we get a replacement tree that is dead on my boulevard?
If the resident believes that the tree on Town property is dying or is dead, residents may notify the Town and arrangements will be made with Town staff to view the tree in question. Prior to Assumption please call Development Engineering 905-873-2600 ext. 2200. If the subdivision is assumed, please call Public Works General Inquiry Line 905-873-2600 ext. 2603.
When will my road be graded?
After the winter season, when roads are deemed dry enough, gravel roads will be graded.
When will the dust control be applied to my gravel road?
The Town of Halton Hills applies liquid calcium chloride twice a year on all gravel roads in Halton Hills. This program usually begins in late May or early June. A second application begins in late August, early September.
Can you spray dandelions covering the boulevard or fields?
The Town of Halton Hills has adopted a pesticide reduction program and will not spray dandelions or weeds on boulevards or Town-owned open space. Sports fields, parks and cemeteries will be sprayed if the weed threshold has been exceeded.
Where can I pick up composters?
Composters are available at the Region of Halton. Check your waste calendar for further information.
Where can I get free compost and wood chips?
Halton Region provides Public Works with free compost on Earth Day ONLY. It can be picked up on Earth Day at the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre. Please bring your own shovel and container. Donations to the food bank are appreciated.
Can potholes in the road be fixed?
Potholes result from water getting in the granular base below the surface asphalt. This weakens the pavement and allows the traffic to create cracks and then breaks the road surface. The winter freeze and thaw cycle accelerates this process. Contact Public Works to advise us of the location and staff will schedule a repair.
Can you repair the sod damaged by the sidewalk snow plow?
Yes, notify Public Works. In the spring, Town staff will topsoil and seed areas where the plow has caused damage. However, it is the homeowner's responsibility to care for the area, once it has been seeded.
Where can I pick up a Blue Box?
New residents of Halton Hills can pick up 2 Blue Boxes at the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre at 11620 Trafalgar Road. Current residents may have 1 blue box per year, free of charge and can purchase additional blue boxes from Halton Region. For more information visit Halton Region.
Who shall I contact if my streetlight is not working?
If you notice that any streetlight in the Town is out or turning off and on intermittently, please contact Halton Hills Hydro at 519-853-3700 ext. 226.
Where can I get information on School Crossing Guard?
The Town of Halton Hills administers 30 School Crossing Guard locations within Acton, Georgetown and Glen Williams. For specific locations/times and/or employment opportunities, visit Crossing Guards.
What services does Public Works provide?
Broken or missing street signs, Cemetery and park maintenance, Culvert repairs, animal on the side of the road, Garbage and debris on the side of the road, Graffiti, Potholes, Sidewalk Program, Sign and streetlight maintenance, Sod repair, Sweeping and dust control, Tree planting and removal, and Winter maintenance.

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