Road Maintenance

Regular road grading ensures a safe driving surface for the public and helps preserve the County’s road infrastructure. The County’s 1,450 kilometers of gravel roads are divided into eight grader districts, with each operator responsible for maintaining approximately 181 kilometers. Roads are graded on a rotation of about 20 working days (roughly once per month), with higher-use roads receiving more frequent grading and low-use roads less frequent attention.

A 2012 rural road study classified roads into Arterial (heavy use), Collector (moderate use), and Local (low use) based on traffic patterns. Seasonal changes due to agriculture and industry also impact grading frequency. Grading season typically runs from May to October, when temperatures are above freezing and the ground is thawed.

Gravel road widths vary by classification:

• Arterial roads – 9 meters (29 ½ feet) wide
• Collector & Local roads – 8 meters (26 ¼ feet) wide
  All gravel roads have a 4% crown to support safe driving and effective water drainage. Operators use a four-pass grading technique to maintain proper width and crown.

Identifying Traffic Patterns on Gravel Roads

Traffic levels on gravel roads can be estimated by wheel tracks:

• Arterial roads – Up to five visible wheel tracks (frequent two-way traffic)
• Collector roads – Three wheel tracks (occasional two-way traffic)
• Local roads – Two wheel tracks (primarily one-way traffic)

Additional Summer Operations

Beyond grading, the County performs several seasonal road maintenance tasks, including:

• Paved road sweeping in highways, hamlets, and subdivisions to remove winter sand and debris
• Pressure washing road signs annually to maintain visibility
• Delineator inspections and repairs in spring and fall
• Bridge cleaning and minor inspections on major County road structures
• Crack sealing and line repainting of paved roads by mid-June
• Annual inspections and pothole repairs on paved roads
• Catch basin inspections and cleaning for buried storm drains

For more details, refer to the Road Maintenance Policy.