Roads

General Information

South Huron maintains 350 km of roads, 40 km of sidewalks, 38 bridges, 44 culverts and 16 traffic signals. Our experienced staff is on the front line of safety as well as customer service in any given season. This includes summer construction projects and winter salt, sanding and plowing activities.

Seasonal Gravel and Dust Control 

Gravel Roads

​The Municipality has approximately 181 km of gravel roads. Each year approximately half of all gravel roads receive additional gravel. Typically, the annual maintenance cycle alternates between east and west side of Stephen Ward and east and west side of Usborne Ward. Over time gravel breaks down and new gravel is required to maintain the road base.

Grading of Gravel Roads

Grading gravel roads is required to establish and maintain a crown and aid in proper roadway drainage. Grading is used to repair washouts, potholes and washboards. Grading typically occurs in the spring and fall (where there is moisture present) to aid in dust control and compaction of the material. The Municipality grades gravel roads on a periodic basis throughout the season in order to maintain proper drainage of the road surface and improve the driving surface. Road grading is carried out only after the frost is out of the ground and the gravel base has dried up sufficiently to ensure an effective gravel maintenance program. Grading too early will only make road conditions worse.

Annual Gravel Requirements

The Municipality adds approximately 30,000 tonnes of gravel to rural roads each year. The municipality purchases the gravel through the public tendering process.

Gravel Resurfacing (Spring/Fall)

The application of maintenance gravel ensures a consistent driving surface, as well as a proper road structure to support vehicles. During the spring and fall months, the Municipality applies gravel on rural roads.  

What is Dust Control

Dust control is applied in the spring after roads have been graded, fresh gravel applied and proper crown and drainage has been established. The Municipality contracts dust control services through the public tendering process. Dust control is applied on all gravel roads. Dust control typically applied is calcium chloride/salt brine with a minimum 20% chloride. These chlorides are effective at controlling dust because they attract water from the air, thereby keeping the roadway slightly moist at all times. Dust control is used to both limit dust and help to compact our gravel roads by forming a crust to hold the road fines into the aggregate surface.

When is Dust Control Applied?

Depending on weather conditions, the first application of dust control begins mid-May to the end of June, once staff completes road grading or gravel resurfacing.

Road Closures

Notices about planned road closures can be found on Municipal 511 and South Huron social media pages. Whenever possible, information on emergency road closures is shared via social media and posted on Municipal 511. 

Leaf and Yard Waste Pick Up

Spring Pickup -  April 14, 2023 - April 28, 2023

Fall Pickup -   October 16, 2023 - November 13, 2023

Fall Brush Pickup - October 26, 2023

Brush pickup is a single day pickup that occurs in the Fall only. Brush must be bundled and tied in four foot (4’) lengths or less.  

Municipal Drain Maintenance 

Please fill out a Municipal Drain Maintenance Request Form and submit it to the Legislative Services/Clerks Department. Contact information for the department is found at the bottom of the Municipal Drain Maintenance Request form. If you are completing the form online, it will be sent directly to the department, once submitted.  

For more information, please view the Drainage Page located on the upper righthand side of this page. 

Application for Entranceway

All new road access points for residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial require an Entrance Permit.

The process for an Application for Entranceway is as followed:

1- Fill out an Application for Entranceway Form.

2- Submit the completed form to the email provided on the application.

3- Transportation staff will review the application. Pending the nature of the permit, staff will set up a site meeting with the applicant if necessary.

4- The formal approval of the permit is completed by the Manager of Transportation Services.

Please note entranceways are placed at the cost of the applicant based on the specification provided by the municipality. If the specifications are not met, the municipality may contract the work out to meet the specifications. This work will be completed at the owner's expense. 

Streetlights

If there are any concerns with the streetlights located within the South Huron municipal boundaries, please fill out a Report a Problem form. Please note that the Municipality does not service any privately owned streetlights. 

Tree Program

The Municipality has authority to clear trees within the road allowance. Road allowance is 33 feet from the center of the road, both ways. Should a tree be deemed unsafe or dead, the Municipality will choose to remove the tree. Tree removal is tracked and each year the Municipality replaces the same number of trees that it has removed back into the respective community.

In the event that a tree is removed from in front of your residence, you can advise the Transportation Services Department if you wish to receive a tree to plant on your own property, in place of the one that was removed. Tree orders are completed every January and trees are picked up between April and May. It is the responsibility of the resident to pick up and plant the tree.  

Intersection Road Blades 

If you notice an intersection blade is damaged or missing, please contact the Transportation Services Department so a replacement blade can be ordered and installed. Reporting a missing intersection blade will allow for the emergency responders to ensure their response time is as quick as possible.