Parking, Roads and Sidewalks

Roadway shoulder maintenance occurs during the spring, summer, and fall months. Public Works staff maintain the roadway shoulders through a multi-stage maintenance process. This maintenance is necessary when excess sediment and organic material accumulates on and in the roadway shoulders. 

Why We Undertake Roadway Shoulder Maintenance

Roadway shoulders serve several functions:

1. They support the edge of the travelled portion of the roadway.
2. They provide an area for motorists to regain control if their vehicle leaves the road surface.
3. The roadway shoulder conveys roadway drainage from the road surface into the roadside ditch. Over time, the shape of the shoulders changes and organic material may start to grow. Both instances negatively affect the functions noted above.

The Roadway Shoulder Maintenance Process

1. Roadway shoulders with excess sediment and organic material is identified.
2. A Roads Operator with the support of a grader mounted disc uproots and overturns the shoulder material.
3. Warm, dry weather is then needed to dry the overturned material to allow it to erode away leaving behind the granulars. This process may take 1-2 weeks depending on the weather.
4. Any excess material (spoil) will then be graded off and removed.
5. Areas requiring material will receive additional granular that will be added with the use of a truck mounted hopper.
6. The roadway shoulders are then graded and packed to re-establish the roadway shoulder.

The Benefits of Roadway Shoulder Maintenance

1. The removal of the excess material enhances roadway drainage.
2. The removal of the organic material prevents roots and decaying material from compromising the underlaying roadway and shoulder structure.
3. The life expectancy of a roadway can be extended.
4. Reduced sediment being pushed into roadside ditches during winter plowing operations.

What Residents Can Do

1. Exercise caution when driving along our roadways.
2. Refrain from planting or allowing organic material from growing on our roadways and roadway shoulders.
3. Please be patient while Public Works staff undertake this maintenance work.

The following YouTube video demonstrates how the equipment functions when performing Roadway Shoulder Maintenance. 

Who is responsible for the culvert in my driveway?

New culvert installation is completed by the homeowner. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to purchase the pipe and have it installed to the Town standards. Once installed and approved, the Town assumes ownership and maintenance of the entrance and culvert. If a culvert fails due to natural causes, the Town will replace the culvert. During a road reconstruction or rehabilitation project the Town will reinstated existing entrances that have been affected by the road works. If the damage to the culvert is found to due to negligence, misuse, or damage due to construction undertaken by the property owner, the property owner will be responsible for the cost of replacement.

 

What is a ditch?

Ditches are typically natural narrow channels, or channels dug into earth, used for the conveyance of drainage or irrigation of land.

What is a swale?

They are also used for the conveyance and retention of drainage and irrigation of land, however are usually located along the rear yards of properties.

Who is responsible for maintaining the ditches or swales in my backyard?

Swales and ditch maintenance are the responsibility of the individual home owner to ensure proper conveyance of drainage flows to a sufficient outlet as designed and accepted during subdivision development. Current and potential homeowners are encouraged to ask their real estate representatives and/or legal representatives for this information, especially when easements may exist on specific properties.

Why hasn't the Town cleaned the ditch in front of my property?

 For the remainder of the year, Town ditching crews will focus on finishing areas in progress and reaching as many new areas as possible. Requests to revisit areas will be considered based on urgency as assessed by the Town. Ditching efforts have been challenged by several factors including extended service areas and resource shortages. Available resources continue to be employed to address these challenges as efficiently as possible. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your continued patience. Requests for service can be directed to our Public Works Department 705-435-3900.

Can I fill the ditch along my backyard?

It is not recommended. The ditches along backyards are swales, constructed for the purposes of overland drainage of properties towards catch basins. If they are filled, or impeded in any way, it may cause flooding of neighbouring properties upstream. The Common Law can be referred to in these instances where private property disputes arise as a result of one neighbour blocking or no longer willing to accept the drainage of another. The filling-in of swales or ditches within subdivisions, may subject you to required permits form the Town

Is there a By-Law to restrict my neighbour from empyting their pool onto the swale?

No. Flooding out a neighbour in this manner is a civil issue. Try talking to your neighbour to discuss alternative drainage options. Make notes and take pictures of the damages and make insurance claims if necessary. The Town has no obligation morally or financially to rectify these types of civil matters.

 

There is a sewer in my backyard, what is it for and who is responsible for its maintenance?

It is a catch basin, installed for the purposes of collecting overland drainage from surrounding properties through swales. The catch basin, and the pipe connecting it to the sewer in the road are maintained by the Town typically through an easement, however the swale maintenance is the responsibility of the individual home owner.

Why does the roadway flood in heavy rainfall events?

During periods of heavy rainfall, the roadway drainage and storm sewer systems may not have sufficient capacity to drain the water as quickly as during normal rainfall. Please allow the system adequate time to clear. However, if you are aware of a blocked catch basin or culvert, please call the Public Works Department 705-435-3900 to request a cleanout.

Will the Town come on my property to fix my drainage?

No. Private drainage matters are private.

What is a pothole?

A pothole is a type of failure in a road surface that typically is caused by a combination of traffic and water saturating the soil material under the road. Ona paved road during a freeze-thaw cycle, the water will expand causing the road to crack. This then allows more water to enter the base material causing further loss of material. Eventually, the asphalt layer over these divots collapses, creating potholes. Similarly, a gravel road may become saturated with water and as vehicles travel over the surface the finer materials in the gravel are lost allowing a pothole to develop. Should you notice a pothole that needs immediate attention, please contact the Public Works Department at 705-435-3900 providing the following information to assist crews in locating the pothole:- name of street
- direction and lane (ie. northbound, right lane)
- address of the closest building to pothole
- cross-street information, if available
- size of pothole

Who is responsible for repairing potholes?

The Town is responsible for the maintenance of Town Roads. Simcoe County is responsible for maintenance of County Roads. And the Ministry of Transportation Ontario is responsible for the maintenance of Provincial Highways.

Learn more about parking your vehicle in New Tecumseth, paying parking tickets, winter parking and parking on private property.

Learn more about the parking permits program in New Tecumseth or apply for a Parking permit application.

Road Ownership 

Gravel Road

Road Resurfacing

We provide road and sidewalk upkeep services for Town residents. You can learn more about:

• Road Closures and Construction
• Street Lights and Traffic Signals
• Street Sweeping

You can report a concern about parking, Town roads and sidewalks.

Learn more about our Community Transportation Program, which provides transportation for seniors and residents with special assistance mobility needs. The program helps participants get to things like medical appointments or grocery stores.

The Engineering Department is responsible for assigning speed limits on municipal roads, investigating the need for traffic calming, and determining appropriate forms of intersection control.

More information on speed limits, traffic calming, and all-way stop control can be found here.