Public Works - Roads | Municipality of Sioux Lookout

Public Works - Roads

Responsibilities:

All aspects of Municipal Roadways: grading, potholes, entrances, brushing, litter, street sweeping, etc.
All aspects regarding Municipal sidewalks.
Winter Control of all Municipal Roadways and Sidewalks-plowing, sanding, snow removal, steaming of culverts, etc.
All aspects regarding the Municipal Storm Sewer System: ditching, flooding, drainage problems, etc.
Traffic signs including stop signs, speed signs, informational signs, etc.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Summer Regular Hours - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (off at noon)
Winter Regular Hours - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (off at noon)
Winter Night Shift - 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM

CONTACTS:

Regular Hours: 737-1234
After Hours Manager: 738-1311
Foreman: 737-0313

After Hours EMERGENCY ONLY: 223-4666

Routine Servicing of Municipal Roads - 2005

Highway Classification:

All minimum maintenance standards including the level of service to be provided are based on the classification of a particular highway. Speed limits and traffic volumes determine their classification. Within the new Municipal Act and in particular the Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways, every highway under the jurisdiction of a municipality in Ontario is to classified according to a specified criteria based on the applicable speed limit and the average annual daily traffic. Within the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, traffic volumes are insufficient to meet the set criteria for Highway Classes 1 to 3. Therefore, there exist Highway Class 4 roads (priority), Highway Class 5 roads, and finally Highway Class 6 roads (low volume).

The set criteria for highways based on a speed limit of 50kph is as follows:
Class 4 Highway: Average Daily Traffic = 500 to 3,999 vehicles per day
Class 5 Highway: Average Daily Traffic = 50 to 499 vehicles per day
Class 6 Highway: Average Daily Traffic = 0 to 49 vehicles per day

Municipality's Level of Service for Municipal Highways:

Note: All references made to days are defined as Calendar Days.

ORDER OF PRIORITY OPERATION

Patrolling:

Optimum Crew Size: 1/2

To address routine patrolling requirements on municipal roads, they will be conducted in accordance with the seasonal tables below:
1. Routine patrolling shall be carried out by driving on the highway to check for conditions described in this Service Document.
2. Routine patrolling is not required between sunset and sunrise unless adverse climatic conditions (i.e. storms, freezing rain, flooding) or emergency conditions exist.
3. Routine Patrolling Frequency in Winter:
  
  Highway Class Patrolling Frequency
  
  4 once every 3 days
  
  5 once every 7 days
  
  6 once every 14 days
4. Routine Patrolling Frequency in Summer:
  
  Highway Class Patrolling Frequency
  
  4 once every 7 days
  
  5 once every 14 days
  
  6 once every 30 days
Routine patrolling will involve record keeping in paper or possibly a computer format in order to adhere to the requirements of the Municipal Act and to develop a scheduled work list for repairs.
Sanding & Salting:

Optimum Crew Size: 1
Number of Crews: 2

To address winter salting and sanding on municipal roads, they will be conducted in accordance with the following:
1. The minimum service for treating icy snow packed roadways is,
  1. To deploy resources to treat an icy roadway as soon as practical after becoming aware that the roadway is icy; and
  2. To treat the icy roadway within the time set out below to this section after becoming aware that the roadway is icy.
  3. To treat icy snow packed snow on hills and intersections.
2. This section only applies to a municipality during the season when the municipality performs winter highway maintenance.
  Sanding Only:
  
  Highway Class Time
  
  4 5 hours
  
  5 12 hours
  
  6 24 hours
  
  Sanding & Plowing:
  
  Highway Class Time
  
  4 8 hours
  
  5 16 hours
  
  6 30 hours
3. The treatment of icy roads will first concentrate on Class 4 roadways before addressing Class 5 roadways. Class 4 roadways will be sanded by 7:30 am daily on weekdays and 11:00 am on weekends.
4. During snowstorm events, wet snow, or freezing rain conditions, service will be concentrated on Class 4 highways until a constant level of safety can be achieved.
Winter Plowing:

Optimum Crew Size: 1
Number of Crews: 3

To address snow plowing requirements on municipal roads, they will be conducted in accordance with the following:
1. The minimum standard for clearing snow accumulation is:
  1. While the snow continues to accumulate, to deploy resources to clear the snow as soon a practicable after becoming aware of the fact that the snow accumulation on a roadway is greater than the depth set out below.
  2. After the snow accumulation has ended and after becoming aware that the snow accumulation is greater than the depth set out below, to clear the snow accumulation as stated below.
  3. Roadways will be plowed full width to a minimum snow packed condition.
  4. Roadway shoulder snow accumulations will be winged back only after all roadway snow plowings has been completed in providing road access.
2. The snow accumulation must be cleared to a depth less than or equal to the depth set out below.
3. "Snow Accumulation" means the natural accumulation of new fallen snow or wind-blown snow that covers more than half a lane width of a roadway.
  Snow Accumulation:
  
  Highway Class Depth Time
  
  4 8 cm 8 hours
  
  5 10 cm 16 hours
  
  6 15 cm 30 hours
4. During snowstorm events or wet snow conditions, service will be concentrated on Class 4 highways until a constant level of safety can be achieved.
5. The treatment of icy roads will first concentrate on Class 4 roadways before addressing Class 5 roadways. Class 4 roadways will be plowed by 7:30 am daily on weekdays and 11:00 am on weekends.
Both snow plowing and sanding operations are recorded utilizing a geotab system to provide us with a legal record of the route taken (mapping), time, duration, when & where sanding occurred, and when and where snow plowing occurred. These records are in computer format and are archived. This is a requirement of the Municipal Act.
Sidewalk Plowing & Sanding:

Optimum Crew Size: 1

The plowing and sanding of sidewalks will commence after becoming aware of the fact they are slippery or movement is obstructed.

Sidewalk plowing and sanding will be conducted in the following order: first in the downtown core followed by routes to schools, hospitals and finally the residential areas.

Roadways have priority over sidewalks and therefore, sidewalk plowing & sanding may have to be postponed in order to provide safe passage on roadways.

Routine plowing and sanding operations on sidewalks will be conducted within 10 working hours.
Spring Drainage:

Optimum Crew Size: 3
Number of Crews: 2

The thawing of frozen culverts, catch basins and drainage systems will be conducted as soon as practical and will be serviced on a priority basis with particular emphasis to protecting municipal infrastructure & transportation routes, private property, and citizens.
Pot Hole Patching:

Optimum Crew Size: 2
Number of Crews: 2

Addressing potholes will be conducted in accordance with routine patrolling:
1. If a pothole exceeds both the surface area and depth set below to this section, as the case may be, the minimum standard is to repair the pothole within the time set out below, as appropriate, after becoming aware of the fact.
2. A pothole shall be deemed to be repaired if its surface area or depth is less than or equal to that set out below, as appropriate.
  Potholes on Paved Surface of Roadway:
  
  Highway Class Surface Area Depth Time
  
  4 1000 cm2 8 cm 7 days
  
  5 1000 cm2 8 cm 14 days
  
  6 1000 cm2 8 cm 21 days
Gravel Patch - Shoulders:

Optimum Crew Size: 4

Addressing gravelling of the road's shoulders will be conducted in accordance with the routine patrolling:
1. Shoulder Drop-Offs:
  1. If a shoulder drop-off is deeper, for a continuous distance of 20 meters or more, than the depth set out below to this section, the minimum standard is to repair the shoulder drop-off with the time set out below, after becoming aware of the fact.
  2. A shoulder drop-off shall be deemed to be repaired if its depth is less than or equal to that set out below.
  3. In this section,
    "Shoulder Drop-Off" means the vertical differential, where the paved surface of the roadway is higher than the surface of the shoulder between the paved surface of the roadway and the paved on non-paved surface of the shoulder.
    Shoulder Drop-Off
    
    Highway Class Depth Time
    
    4 8 cm 14 days
    
    5 8 cm 30 days
    
    6 not required
Roadway washouts:

Road washouts will be conducted on a Highway Class priority basis and as soon as permit able. Once becoming aware that a road has been washed out, immediate action will be taken. In the event of multiple washouts, repairs will be conducted on a priority basis however; safety of the general public will be secured on all roads.
Grading:

Optimum Crew Size: 1

The grading of all municipal gravel roads will be conducted after the spring thaw and prior to fall freeze up.

Routine grading will be conducted in accordance with the routine patrolling utilizing the following guidelines:

Washboard on Non-Paved Surface of Roadway

Highway Class Surface Area Depth Time

4 1500 cm2 10 cm 7 days

5 1500 cm2 12 cm 14 days

6 not required

Applications of liquid calcium for dust control and maintenance is recommended however, are optional.
Sidewalk Repair:

Optimum Crew Size: 2/4

Addressing sidewalk repair and surface discontinuity, they will be conducted in accordance with the following:

A tripping hazard is defined as any severe discontinuity or distortion that deviates from the designed standard in excess of 5 cm in height.

After becoming aware of the fact, any severe discontinuity or distortion which posses a tripping hazard will be repaired within 30 days.

Required sidewalk repairs will be postponed during winter conditions and temporary repairs will be introduced in the interim.

Repairs may consist of patching with acceptable material (concrete, asphalt, cold mix, brick or gravel) or total removal and reinstallation.
Traffic Signs:

Optimum Crew Size: 1

The maintenance of traffic signs and their installation will be conducted in accordance with the following:
1. If any sign of a type listed in Subsection (2) is illegible, improperly oriented or missing, the minimum standard is to deploy resources as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the fact to repair or replace the sign.
2. This section applies to the following types of signs;
  1. Checkerboard
  2. Curve sign with advisory speed tab
  3. Do Not Enter
  4. One Way
  5. School Zone Speed Limit
  6. Stop
  7. Stop Ahead
  8. Stop Ahead, New
  9. Yield
  10. Yield Ahead
  11. Yield Ahead, New
All traffic signs will conform to the "Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices" published in 1985 by the Ministry of Transportation.
Snow Removal:

Optimum Crew Size: 2/3

Snow removal on municipal boulevards located in residential areas will be conducted on the basis of the inability of sidewalk plow to clear them, obstructions of visibility to drivers or pedestrians, and to ensure drainage is provided during spring thaw. Snow removal will be conducted on a priority basis to facilitate emergency, hospital, and school routes first before addressing other pedestrian walkways.

Snow removal on municipal boulevards located in the downtown core will be conducted once the snow banks accumulation on the boulevard reach a height of 600 mm. The downtown core consists of Front Street from its intersection with Wellington easterly to Third Avenue, King Street from Seventh Avenue easterly to Third Avenue, and encompassing avenues.

Snow removal operations will be conducted during the midnight shift for the downtown core area and Wellington Street to avoid disruptions in traffic flows. Snow removal in residential areas will be conducted during daytime operations but if required, removal may be required during the midnight shift.

Important: Snow removal operations may be postponed or deferred due to inclement weather. Plowing and sanding of municipal roadways is a priority as per the Municipal Act, and therefore, snow removal on ALL boulevards, including sidewalks may have to be deferred until these priorities are met.
Culverts & Ditching:

Optimum Crew Size: 3/5

Centerline culverts will be repaired or replaced on an at need basis to address drainage problems, road failures, washouts, or any event that restricts vehicular mobility or threatens the well being of persons and property.

Entrance culverts are the responsibility of the property owner served to install, maintain, replace and upkeep. Owners are required to obtain an Entrance Permit prior to installing an entrance culvert on municipal right of way. The Municipality will only replace entrance culverts at the Municipality's expense when conducting a ditching operation or emergency removal.

Emergency ditching will be conducted as soon as possible to areas where drainage is seriously impaired and when re establishing the ditch line or introducing a new ditch will be effective in correcting flooding conditions.

Regular ditch maintenance will be conducted on a priority basis and built into the regular summer maintenance program.

All outfalls will be cleaned out at least once per year and preferably in the fall.

Problem beavers and dams will be handled in association with the Trapper's Association.
Storm Sewers:

Optimum Crew Size: 1/2

Storm Sewer manholes will be cleaned and inspected at least once a year to promote free flow and prevent flooding. This preventative maintenance program has drastically reduced the level of flooding previously experienced and set into place a mechanism for scheduled repairs to our stormwater system.

All storm sewer failures will be addressed as soon as becoming aware of the situation.

The flushing of storm sewer mainlines will be conducted once a blockage occurs however, the cleaning of manholes has eliminated the occurrence of blockages since this program has been initiated in 1995.
Brushing:

Optimum Crew Size: 2/4

Trees, shrubs and limbs which encroach onto the traveled portion of the road or sidewalk will be removed on an at need basis to accommodate municipal equipment working on roadways or sidewalks, or to correct visibility obstructions, snow storage or drainage concerns.

Fallen trees onto roadways will be removed immediately once becoming aware of the occurrence. The operation may entail the immediate removal of the obstruction from the walking or driving surface and temporary storage on the municipal boulevard. However, disposal of all debris will be conducted as soon as it is practical (i.e. storm event).

Private hedges or branches encroaching onto municipal property are the responsibility of the private landowner to remove and dispose of at an approved disposal site.
Street Lighting:

Sioux Hydro

To address street lighting on municipal roads, they will be conducted in accordance with the Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways:
1. For conventional illumination, if three or more consecutive luminaries on a highway are not functioning, the minimum standard is to repair the luminaries within the time set out in below to this section after becoming aware of the fact.
2. For conventional illumination, if 30 % or more of the luminaries on any kilometer of highway are not functioning, the minimum standard is to repair the luminaries within the time set out below this section after becoming aware of the fact.
3. Despite subsection (2), if all of the luminaries on consecutive poles are not functioning, the minimum standard is to deploy resources as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the fact to repair the luminaries.
4. In this section,
  "Conventional Illumination" means lighting, other than high mast illumination, where there are one or more luminaries per pole;
  "Luminaries" means a complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp and parts designed to distribute the light, to position or protect the lamp and to connect the lamp to the power supply.
  Luminaries
  
  Highway Class Time
  
  4 14 days
  
  5 14 days
  
  6 30 days
Hot Asphalt Patching:

Contractor

Small areas where deformations in the existing pavement are noted will be repaired as soon as practical (i.e. seasonal) and when a paving contractor can be made available.

Asphalt or surface treated road surfaces that have been removed due to a scheduled or unscheduled (i.e. washout) excavation will be repaired as soon as practical and when a paving crew can be scheduled.
Street Sweeping:

Optimum Crew Size: 1/4

The sweeping up of winter sand within the Urban area will commence as soon as practical (freeze/thaw) on all streets given their order & priority and surface composition. In areas with heavy accumulations of sand, a loader/broom and tandem will first be utilized prior to the street sweeper being deployed.

The sweeping of surface treated roads is difficult during warm temperatures as it is prone to lift and tear the surface. It is recommended to sweep surface treated roads during cooler days, which may mean deferring a higher priority asphalt paved street to avoid unnecessary damage to its surface. Sweeping will commence at 5:00 am and will continue throughout the day until 5:00 pm until all sand is removed.

Regular sweeping of residential streets within the urban area will occur on a need basis.

Regular sweeping of the downtown core will be conducted twice per week (Mondays & Fridays) and on an at need basis. Sweeping will commence at 5:00 am. during daylight hours in the summer.

Municipal road intersections will have their approaches swept of sand and gravel on an at need basis for safety reasons once becoming aware of the situation.
Roadside Litter & Debris:

Optimum Crew Size: 1

Addressing roadside litter & debris will be conducted in accordance with the following:
1. If there is debris on a roadway, the minimum standard is to deploy resources, as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the fact, to remove debris.
2. In this section:
  "Debris" means any material or object on a roadway,
  1. That is not an integral part of the roadway or has not been intentionally placed on the roadway by a municipality, and
  2. That is reasonably likely to cause damage to a motor vehicle or to injure a person in a motor vehicle.
3. Participation in the Pitch-In Campaign as required.
Crack Sealing:

Contractor

This is an optional maintenance operation to protect and prolong the life span of asphalt.

Addressing roadway cracks will be conducted in accordance with the following:
1. If a crack on the paved surface of a roadway is greater, for a continuous distance of three meters or more, than both the width and depth set out below to this section, the minimum standard is to repair the crack within the time set out in below after becoming aware of the fact.
2. A crack shall be deemed to be repaired if its width or depth is less than or equal to that set out below.
  Cracks
  
  Highway Class Width Depth Time
  
  4 5 cm 5 cm 180 days
  
  5 5 cm 5 cm 180 days
  
  6 not required

Highway Class	Patrolling Frequency
4	once every 3 days
5	once every 7 days
6	once every 14 days

Highway Class	Patrolling Frequency
4	once every 7 days
5	once every 14 days
6	once every 30 days

Highway Class	Time
4	5 hours
5	12 hours
6	24 hours

Highway Class	Time
4	8 hours
5	16 hours
6	30 hours

Highway Class	Depth	Time
4	8 cm	8 hours
5	10 cm	16 hours
6	15 cm	30 hours

Highway Class	Surface Area	Depth	Time
4	1000 cm2	8 cm	7 days
5	1000 cm2	8 cm	14 days
6	1000 cm2	8 cm	21 days

Highway Class	Depth	Time
4	8 cm	14 days
5	8 cm	30 days
6	not required

Highway Class	Surface Area	Depth	Time
4	1500 cm2	10 cm	7 days
5	1500 cm2	12 cm	14 days
6	not required

Highway Class	Time
4	14 days
5	14 days
6	30 days

Highway Class	Width	Depth	Time
4	5 cm	5 cm	180 days
5	5 cm	5 cm	180 days
6	not required

FAQ & Responses:

I live on a side road and I see the snow plow driving by on the main road. Why does he not plow my road at that time?

During snow storms or adverse weather, requires us to maintain priority roads foremost. This means we will continue to plow and sand main roads before we address secondary roads. Legally we are obligated to maintain priority roadways but there is no legal obligation to maintain secondary or Class 6 roads. In addition, at the beginning of winter when graveled roads are not yet froze, plowing will lead to digging up the road and creating damage.
The snow plow has just past by my home and now there is a windrow of snow across my entrance/path. Can you come by and have the snow removed? I would but I am a senior/health employee/ill and I can not do it.

The municipality does not or is not required to remove snow windrows in these locations. From a financial and employee/equipment availability perspective, we do not have the resources to do so.
I have my driveway on the backlane and need to get to work in the morning. Why isn't my backlane plowed? I view this as a safety concern in the event I need to get to the hospital.

Backlanes are a low priority road and are plowed last.
I am repairing/installing a driveway to my home, what is required?

An Entrance permit is required prior to conducting any work. Entrance maintenance is the responsibility of the homeowner. Contact the Roads Manager at 737 1234 and he will assist you on these matters.
I parked my vehicle on the street at night and found a parking ticket on it this morning? Why am I getting ticketed?

Parking on all municipal streets between the hours of 2:00 am and 8:00 am is prohibited and will be ticketed/towed. In order to plow and sand streets efficiently, vehicles must not be located on the roads between these hours.
I am a resident and have some waste oil to dispose of. Where can I do so?

The Municipality provides a waste oil depot for noncommercial use. It is located at 41 Fifth Avenue, just north of the Fire Hall.

Municipality of Sioux Lookout

The Hub of the North