What You Need to Know
Wet Conditions
Gravel roads can quickly develop soft spots when wet, but conditions often improve rapidly as the road dries and firms up.
Further damage can occur to gravel roads when they are wet, so City crews wait until the roads are slightly dry and firm before safely dispatching graders to regrade them.
When addressing drainage or flooding issues, the City not only repairs the damaged roadway but also addresses the specific point of failure. This ensures that the repairs are successful and do not need to be repeated.
After the spring thaw, City staff shift from spring sweeping operations to grading gravel roads as soon as the roadways are stable and dry enough to support graders without causing damage. During the thaw period, roads are in wet, poor condition, and maintenance is not feasible. Traffic warning signs and reduced speed limits may be posted in some areas.
Service Levels
The City currently has a service level of 30-60 days following a notification to inspect and repair gravel roads. This timeframe allows for roads to dry and stabilize, and account for any unfavourable weather conditions before repairs are made.
For all gravel roads in the City, crews maintain them until they are upgraded to paved roads. This upgrade occurs through private investment as part of the land development process, where rural land is converted to residential or industrial land. The exact timeframe for road upgrades largely depends on the local economy and housing demand.
