Road Maintenance

At this time any road widening of Highway 26 is only strictly conceptual. No decisions have been made as to the extent and timing of any proposed widening. Environmental and design studies are required which will include extensive public involvement. A realistic timeframe for any expansion of Highway 26 is after 2025.
 

The Town and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) have both lead transportation studies along the Highway 26 corridor with many of the studies seeming to overlap. Any overview of the studies is available online.

In 2014 the MTO competed a Ministry Environmental Assessment for the rehabilitation of Highway 26 from east of Thornbury to Grey Road 21. This study and the subsequent construction work completed in 2015 has a 10 to 15 year timeline. Its purpose was to address short-term drainage, access and road platform concerns.  

From the Town’s Strategic Transportation Plan completed in 2010 came three Municipal Class Environmental Assessments (EA’s) that followed the formal process to consider alternatives at:

• Intersections of Highway 26 / Grey Road 2 / Clark Street;
• Intersections of Highway 26 / Grey Road 40 / Woodland Park Road; and
• Highway 26 Craigleith Area from Grey Road 19 to Grey Road 21

The primary focus of these three EA’s is for the next 15 – 20 years for mid-range improvements necessary to address road deficiencies and coordinate improvements needed due to growth pressures. Of these three EA’s, two are completed while the Craigleith Area EA is still ongoing. More information on this study is available on the Town’s website Craigleith Area & Highway 26 EA.

In 2015, the MTO completed a long range 20 – 50 years Highway 26 Transportation Study – Needs Assessment Report to scope future studies for the broader Highway 26 corridor from east of Stayner to west of Thornbury. This study proposed by-passes of Stayner, Collingwood and Thornbury. Due to the escarpment, the preferred proposal included a future widening of Highway 26 through Craigleith from Grey Road 21 to the future Thornbury by-pass. The widening is suggested to be a 4 or 5 lanes road section. The study did include a possible alternate route for the highway along Grey Road 19 and Grey Road 2. Although using the county roads for a realigned Highway 26 was not preferred, it will still be evaluated as a possible option when the relevant study is completed. 

Developers have the right to develop their lands provided they are in conformance with the Town’s Official Plan and other relevant legislation. Developers must ensure that road infrastructure can support their development. It may be necessary for them to make improvements in the area to enable their development to go ahead. At some point if the road is not improved, the road will reach its capacity and no further development can proceed.

The Town has asked and continue to ask the MTO to advance their Environmental Assessment Study that will formally define what works will be done to manage the traffic over the next 50 years. Until that study is done, no definitive answer can be given as to the future works. The Town will oppose the widening of Highway 26 to a 4 / 5 lane cross section from Grey Road 21 to the new Thornbury By-pass given its impact on adjacent land owners and the character of the roadway along the water’s edge. It must though be kept in mind that traffic loading is expected to keep growing along the Highway 26 corridor unless there is a dramatic change in economic or technological factors so there will be future traffic management challenges. Advancing the MTO’s EA will answer these questions and bring certainty to the community.

In addition to advocating for the advancement of the MTO’s EA, the Town is opening a dialogue with our neighbouring communities along Highway 26 to understand their needs and to bring a coordinated approach to improvements along the corridor.
 

No decision made as to when, and moreover if, a road widening will be made. The MTO will only initiate land acquisition only after their EA study is completed which will define the future works. Expropriation will only be used if deemed necessary by the MTO.

The MTO completed a Highway 26 Transportation Study – Needs Assessment Report in 2015 to scope future studies for the broader Highway 26 corridor from east of Stayner to west of Thornbury. This report identified that the preferred solution included the potential widening of Highway 26 from Grey Road 21 to the future Thornbury by-pass to a 4/5 lane cross section. The findings of the Needs Assessment Report provide the authorisation for MTO to request widenings at this time even if the future works don’t require the widening. The MTO is protecting their road allowance in the event that the widening becomes necessary at some point in the future.
 

The Town has had requests from the public and made numerous inquiries to the MTO to consider reducing the speed limit from 80km/hr to 60 km/hr from where the 60 km/hr zone ends until at least Grey Road 19 or to the Craigleith Provincial Park. The MTO has undertaken several speed studies and has concluded that their warrants are not achieved to require a speed limit reduction and so have denied the requests.
 

Please contact Director Operations Department at 519-599-3131 ext. 260

Traffic counts on all Town roads are conducted seasonally and then averaged out every year to obtain an Average Annual Daily Traffic value (AADT). AADT values provide essential insight into the traffic trends and growth rates of roadways.

This data is used for road improvement projects, traffic impact studies for proposed developments, and level-of-service ratings for road maintenance. 

The Operations Department operates an on-call program that allows residents to report road or infrastructure emergencies, such as fallen trees blocking roadways, flooding, and failure of Town infrastructure. 

To report a maintenance emergency, please contact the Operations Department or call the after-hour roads emergency phone number: 226-665-1640

Road crews routinely inspect Town roads, shoulders, and ditches for any defects that may affect the structure or integrity of the roadway.

All speeding and traffic complaints should be reported to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The Town monitors and regulates the installation of utilities such as hydro, natural gas, cable, phone and local internet providers that are located on Town property. 

All residents and companies must obtain a utility locate before digging or excavating. 

Canada Post Rural Mailbox Guidelines and Specifications

Ensure that prior to placing a mailbox within the Town Road Allowance that the location of the mailbox will not interfere with Town maintenance activities. Follow the Mailbox Location Process for mailbox placement.

All roads bridges, culverts and pedestrian bridges within the Municipality are inspected every two years in accordance with Provincial regulations. The objectives of these inspections are to:

• Identify maintenance, repair, rehabilitation needs, and load limit posting recommendations to protect and prolong the useful life of the structures
• Provide a basis for a management system for the planning and funding of the recommended works

View 2021 Summary Report

Please be advised that half load restrictions come into effect annually on March 1 for a variety of roads within the Town of The Blue Mountains, pursuant to By-Law No. 2010-54. Where Axle Weight Restrictions signs are in place, the By-Law is in full force and effect.

Half load restrictions may be extended beyond May 31 of each year depending on weather and road conditions. The roads highlighted in red are subject to half-load restrictions when Axle Weight Restrictions signs are in place.

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