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Roadways – Minimum Maintenance Standards

Throughout the year, the Township of Johnson receives phone calls and inquiries with respect to the condition of local roads.  Most inquiries relate to winter maintenance but as spring rolls around, potholes become a source of inquiry.

The Township of Johnson is required to follow Ontario Regulation 239/02 Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways as the minimum maintenance standard for the roads within the Township[1].

These minimum maintenance standards are set pursuant to regulation under the Municipal Act, 2001, and establish the minimum standards expected of municipalities in Ontario for certain aspects of the maintenance of the roads, bridges and sidewalks under their jurisdiction.   All minimum maintenance standards including the level of service to be provided are based on the classification of a particular highway. Speed limits and traffic volumes determine their classification.

Within the Municipal Act and in particular the Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways, every highway under the jurisdiction of a municipality in Ontario is to be classified according to a specified criteria based on the applicable speed limit and the average annual daily traffic. Within the Township of Johnson, traffic volumes do not meet the set criteria for Highway Classes 1, 2, 3 and 4. Therefore, there exists Highway Class 5 roads (50 to 499 vehicles per day), and Highway Class 6 roads (0 to 49 vehicles per day).

The minimum standards for winter maintenance include but are not limited to:

Class of Highway / Patrolling Frequency
5 / Once every 30 days
6 / None

Class of Highway  / Snow Accumulation (Removal)
5  / 10 cm over 24 hours
6 / None

Class of Highway / Ice Formation Prevention
5 / 24 hours preceding event
6 / None

Class of Highway / Treating Icy Roadways
5  / With 16 hours of event
6 / None

The Township regularly exceeds these minimum standards and while not required, does treat the Class 6 Highways in a similar fashion. These minimum maintenance standards including the amendments will be of assistance to ensure public safety as well as ensuring the Township has done its due diligence.

[1] This information is general in nature and is not meant to be an all-inclusive policy on road maintenance in the Township of Johnson.