Roads

Public Works maintains, and is working to improve, approximately 530 km of roadway: 180 km gravel, 43 km tar & chip and 306 km asphalt surfaces as well as the 98 bridges/structures as part of the road network. Operations include plowing, grading, patching, ditching, brushing, sweeping, maintenance of storm sewers, catch basins, and culverts, pavement markings, road signs, guide rails, roadside mowing, and bridge and culvert maintenance.

Snow Removal

Public Works staff remove snow from municipal roadways and regularly monitor road and weather conditions so we can do so in a safe and timely way.

You can help the Township's winter control by considering these helpful tips:

Remove all vehicles from the road following a snowfall.
Do not place snow from sidewalks or driveways on the street. The Highway Traffic Act and Township By-Law piling snow by-law makes it illegal to place snow or ice on a roadway.
Be patient. Snowplows will clear the streets of snow as soon as possible.
Do not place hockey nets or basketball nets on the roadway or sidewalks.
Do not place snow or ice beside or block access to a fire hydrant.
Clear snow and ice from sewer grates and culverts to help prevent flooding.

The Public Works Department does not engage in snow removal between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless there is an emergency.

Overnight parking is not allowed on Township roads or boulevards from November 1st to April 30th.

Significant Weather Event

What is a Significant Weather Event?

A Significant Weather Event means an approaching or occurring hazard which has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the Township’s roadways, sidewalks and/or parking lots. This may include:

A large accumulation of snow in a 24 hour period,
Ice formation that occurs with no warning,
High winds leading to large snow drifts, and or
Cold temperatures at which de-icing operations will not be effective

If a Significant Weather Event is declared, please take extra caution while travelling.

The Township of Huron-Kinloss will declare a Significant Weather Event in accordance with Ontario Regulation 366/18. Once declared, all road and sidewalks maintained by the Township will be in a “state of repair” until the notice has been ended. This declaration is not a notice of a reduced level of service or road closure. It is to notify drivers and pedestrians to use an appropriate level of caution when travelling during this event. Township staff will continue to work diligently to ensure public safety. Your patience and co-operation is appreciated.

Huron-Kinloss will notify the public that a significant weather event has started or ended in the following ways:

Alert Banner on the Huron-Kinloss website
Social Media (Facebook & Twitter)
A communication will be sent to local Radio media

You can stay in the know about Significant Weather Events by subscribing to the news alerts on the Township website, following our Facebook page and/or subscribing to our Twitter account.

For further information on Ontario Regulation 239/02, please read Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways.

House numbering/civic addressing/9-1-1 number

Civic addressing means your house number in urban areas or 9-1-1 number in rural areas, and it links your property number to the road and municipality that it is in so emergency services can find it if needed. Please display your civic address so it is easy to read from the road.

Rural properties are given a green 9-1-1 sign. If you require a sign due to damage, loss, or new construction, please contact the Public Works Department at 519-395-3735.

Urban properties can purchase a green 9-1-1 sign (includes post) for a fee. Please contact office for pricing.

Damage to mailboxes

It is Township policy that the Township is not financially responsible for damages to a homeowner’s property deemed to be on the Township road allowance when performing normal daily maintenance operations. Unfortunately, it can happen that in normal operations mailboxes get damaged by the snow and ice that is thrown from the plow. It is the responsibility of the owner to repair/replace a mailbox that has been damaged by snow or ice being cleared by a snow plow. Should a mailbox or post be damaged as a result of physical contact with the snow plow, the Township will assess the damage and, if appropriate, will repair or replace the mailbox accordingly.

Some suggestions to minimize damage include: selecting an alternate material such as metal, an alternative style such as one that swings freely, setting the box back from the road as much as possible, and putting the post several feet into the ground to anchor it.

If you want further information on the Township bylaw you will find it on under Mailbox Policy. For information on Canada Post guidelines on rural mailboxes see Canada Post Regulations

Stormwater management – ditches

The purpose of a roadside ditch is the control of surface drainage from the road. Before making any changes to roadside ditches, please contact the Director of Public Works at 519-395-3735.

Street signs

The Township maintains regulatory and street name signage. We appreciate your help in reporting damaged or missing signs using our online reporting system or by calling 519-395-3735.

Streetlights

The Public Works Department appreciates your help in reporting streetlights that are not working or need repair. To report street light outages, please report a problem using our online portal or call 519-395-3735.

To request a new streetlight be put up in your area, please contact the Public Works Department at 519-395-3735.

Driveway entrances

If you are constructing a new driveway, or want to make changes to the one you have, please follow the Entrance Ways Policy and get an Entrance Ways Permit.

Construction projects – driveways/entrance ways

When a road construction project happens on your road, and part or all a driveway entrance that is on Township road allowance needs to be removed, the driveway entrance will be restored as per the Entrance Ways Policy.

We think about the safety of the public, the amount of traffic, keeping the road in good condition for as long as possible, and keeping costs down when deciding on road construction, and giving legal access when looking at applications for new entrances or changes to existing entrances.

We do not help with the construction or grading of private entrances or lane ways.

Half load limits

1/2 Load Limits are in effect from March 1st - May 1st, annually.

Road cuts/dry culverts

Road cuts of surface treated and hard topped municipal roads are not allowed for putting in Dry Culverts or other private works.

Adopt-A-Highway program

We have an "Adopt-A-Highway" program to help keep our environment cleaner and more beautiful. If you or your group would like to adopt a road and be responsible for litter pick up, please read the Adopt-A-Highway Policy and fill out the Adopt-A-Highway form or pick one up at the Municipal Office to fill out in person.

Dust control

Dust control is put on gravel roads each spring between mid-May and late June, and timing depends on availability and weather.

Township of Huron-Kinloss
21 Queen Street
P.O. Box 130
Ripley ON, N0G 2R0

Phone: 519-395-3735
Fax : 519-395-4107
info@huronkinloss.com